Retirements
Clifford Spence - Farrans Construction
In December 2010 Clifford Spence, the Farrans Civil Engineering Director, decided to hang up his boots, safety helmet, high visibility vest and laptop and retire after some 35 years of loyal service to the Company. Over the years Clifford became one of the most familiar, respected and well liked people not only in our Company but in the industry across the Province and beyond.
Clifford joined Farrans on 1st October 1976 as an engineer and progressed through a number of roles which culminated in him becoming a director of the Farrans Civil Engineering Division in 1994. During his employment he was involved in most of the major contracts successfully delivered by Farrans which did much to enhance our reputation as the “Contractor of Choice” especially for technically demanding projects. His roll of honour includes Westlink (1980), Crowe Road, Glasgow (1985), Kilroot Power Station (1987), Victoria Terminals in Belfast (1988), Cross Harbour Road and Rail Links (1993), Belfast Sewers (2006) and the M80 project in Glasgow (2008).
Clifford also did much to develop the Farrans business and its systems such as his involvement in the formation of the Farrans Utilities Division, his role as the first Farrans Health and Safety Director and as the Farrans Plant Director.
He will be sadly missed throughout the Farrans family and the rest of Northstone for his anecdotes, his challenging of the status quo, his relentless pursuit of continuous improvement, his advice, his humour, his support and as a confidant and friend.
All at Northstone wish Clifford a long, happy and healthy retirement and we understand he will be busying himself spending time with his first grandchild, Sebastian, who was born in March of this year.
Noel Quinn - Northstone (NI) Ltd
In December 2009 The Northstone Chief Executive, Noel Quinn retired. Noel succeeded Ernie McClure in 2001 and through his good stewardship, attention to detail and people skills our Company has developed beyond measure.
He came to the role with a plan to rejuvenate and make our Company more efficient which he undoubtedly achieved and had the foresight and courage to devise and implement a major rebranding exercise from which our Northstone identity originated . Noel has always recognised the importance of the diversification of the business in dealing with the fluctuations of the market. Evidence of this is the acquisition of the Cubis businesess, of additional sand reserves and the development of the Coleraine quarry, which have strengthened the Company in the current difficult times.
No doubt we all will have our own experiences and thoughts on Noel’s time with Northstone and invariably these relate to him taking time from his busy schedule to engage in conversation with employees at all levels and take an interest in their role with the Company or families.
Noel leaves a legacy of a focused, motivated and strong management team in each of our divisions as well as an organisational structure and capability which positions the Company well to weather the current recession and to prosper again in the future.
All at Northstone wish Noel a long, happy and healthy retirement.
Joan McMullan - Northstone (NI) Ltd
Joan McMullan, Northstone’s payment manager, retired on the 30th September 2009 after over 35 years service with the Company. A lunch was held recently at Malone House to mark Joan’s retirement and her contribution to Northstone. This landmark occasion ended Joan’s terrific contribution to our Company. Joan had always worked in the accounts department based in Dunmurry which was convenient as she lived locally.
Joan had joined the staff as an accounts clerk in Dunmurry. She had gained promotion through her hard work and team spirit to become the payments manager overseeing the processing of all the Northstone payments.
All at Northstone wish Joan a long and healthy retirement and look forward to seeing Joan call in on her way past.
Willie McNabb - Former Northstone Quarry and Asphalt Division
Willie McNabb, the well liked and highly respected Managing Director of the former Quarry and Asphalt Division retired on 31st December 2009 after over thirty nine years of committed and loyal service to the business. Willie began his career in the weighbridge office at Bushmills Road quarry in Coleraine and as the business developed so did Willie’s career progressing from an accountant role to director at 29 years of age. In 1999, Willie was appointed to the Company’s main board. Willie’s achievements throughout his long and distinguished career are many and varied. His overriding focus on health and safety, results orientation and development of Northstone people at every level did much to enhance the reputation of the Company.
All at Northstone wish Willie a long, happy and healthy retirement.
Dorothy Andrews - Farrans Construction
Dorothy Andrews, Farrans’ Office Manager, retired on the 31st July 2009 after over 40 years service to the Company. Dorothy started in Farrans in September 1966 as a junior clerk in the Cost Office, and then left to have her son returning to work in October 1971. In January 1977 her value to the Company was recognised when she was appointed Supervisor of the Filing Department, a post which she held until her appointment as Farrans’ Office Manager in December 1986.
A retirement lunch was held for Dorothy in the Slieve Donard Hotel, with a good turnout by all of her then work colleagues along with many retired Farrans’ people who Dorothy now looks on as friends.
Dorothy is now enjoying her retirement and all at Northstone wish her good health to enjoy many more years.
David Blake - Farrans Construction
David started his career as an apprentice bricklayer and joined Farrans in 1968 as an assistant buyer on a then major family housing scheme for the armed forces at St Michael’s Estate, Colchester. His commercial awareness was soon recognised and David moved on to take a position as senior buyer in the Farrans Wivenhoe Regional Office, later progressing into contracts management as his career developed.
On the opening of the new Regional Office in Cambridgeshire in 1985 David was promoted to Commercial Manager were he headed up a very successful team culminating in his appointment as a director of Farrans in 2000.
David has been a mentor to many of the senior members of staff in Farrans at Cambridge, an infectious character with a life time construction knowledge that will be missed. All at Northstone wish him well and a long and very happy retirement.
Henry O'Kane - Former Quarry and Asphalt Division
Henry O’Kane, began his career as an eighteen year old junior engineer in 1967 with W M Bolton and Sons in Coleraine. In 1972, Henry took up employment with W+J Taggart in Portrush where he successfully managed a number of major road works in the north and west of the Province. In 1989 Henry joined R J Maxwell and Son Limited, which was later to evolve into part of Northstone (NI) Limited, where he remained as a pivotal part of the contract management team until his retirement in July 2009.
Dedication, hard work and integrity are the core values on which Henry forged his reputation with clients and colleagues. His true capabilities came to the fore when a contract was particularly demanding in terms of programme, design or quality standards. In these situations, Henry always delivered. His forte was a willingness to help others on site and to forge a team spirit to ensure each and every contract was undertaken to the highest possible standard.
All at Northstone wish Henry a long, healthy and happy retirement.
