We spoke with Kevin McBlain, who is the Finance Manager for Education, Schools and SEND/Early Years services. Kevin told us about his time at Sefton Council as he approaches his half-century...
Hi Kevin! How long have you worked at Sefton Council for?
I started working at Sefton Council on leaving school after taking my A levels, on Monday 3 July 1978, starting as a costing clerk in the Finance Department dealing with Engineers and Highways Costed works. During my working life, which has now spanned over 47 years at Sefton, I have remained in Finance.
Qualifying as an accountant in 1991 was one of my considered greatest achievements!
Over my career, I have worked in, and managed, a number of accounting teams across a range of services, including Engineers costing services, Housing General Fund and Housing benefits, and Schools and Families (which include what we now call Children’s Services/Children’s Social Care and Communities). So quite a variety of service areas!
Let’s go back to July 1978. Grease is the movie hit of the summer, Showaddywaddy and The Boomtown Rats are in the charts, and a young Kevin was starting out at Sefton Council. What was that like?
I started work in a large office of 15 people, in what was termed as the Costing Section, starting as a ‘cost clerk’. The whole of the Finance Department was all then based in Balliol House, on Balliol Road in Bootle.
We were on the 2nd floor overlooking Bootle’s South Park. As we faced the sun most of the day, the office would become very hot and uncomfortable in the summer until we got fans and blinds and really pushed the boat out with some ‘stick-on’ plastic smoked screening!
Our work was heavily manual in dealing with paperwork from across all aspects of Engineers accounting. We did have a laugh along the way with jokes, and the occasional practical jokes, but there was great camaraderie between us, and not to say some friendly Liverpool/Everton banter/rivalry after each weekend of football!
It sounds like there were some real characters...
We had a dedicated officer who dealt with rechargeable works and recovery of costs for damage to Council property, such as signs and bollards. Bob C was part of a trio of brothers who have all worked for Sefton.
He was the office prankster, once eating a few maggots he bought for weekend fishing, much to the disgust of a lady in the office, Mrs Carter, or ‘Hazel’ to her friends! Once he put maggots in everyone’s desks on a Friday afternoon, and by Monday morning, they’d all hatched into bluebottles! We were swatting flies all day!
My line manager was in control of the Engineers Vehicle Fleet costs and calculation of charge-out rates, John Morley. John was a great manager who took me under his wing to learn the ropes. He has been retired 30 years from Sefton and is now aged 83!
Amongst our tasks as clerical officers, we were part of a tea rota – and had to take turns making a cup in the morning for the office, and one in the afternoon, until eventually we got a dedicated tea-lady for all sections, Pauline Lowe. I guess the quality of our tea making must have deteriorated at some point to get a Tea-lady! Pauline was a wonderfully funny person and always had a way to lift our spirits when she came round! Nothing was too much trouble. She called me ‘Olly-Beak’ since I only ever asked for half a cup of tea and lots of sugar - she used to say it wasn’t worth me belonging to the sweet tea club!
Who else would you say had a big impact on you?
There are so many people over the last 47 years of my career that have inspired me, too many to mention really, but a few key ones along my career include line and senior managers such as John (Morley); Helen Wilson; Peter Green; Jim Dowsett; Nick Carbonaro; Mark Chambers; Paul Reilly; Margaret Rawding to name a few, but there are others, so apologies if your name is not here!
The staff I’ve been privileged to work with or known over the years, have also been a great support and inspiration to me. I have never known such a dedicated bunch of people with their time and effort and professionalism, as well as their humour and understanding. They deserve my full praise for their work and effort
They, to me, are the real backbone of our service, and the prop against which I have placed my reliance, enabling me to do my job to the best of my ability, and I hope, in some small way, I have been able to inspire and develop them, as a manager, along the way. They will all know who they are past and present!
You’ve had a long stint with Sefton Council, which is ending in December when you take a well-earned retirement. How does it feel to be recognised for your long service?
It is an honour and a privilege.
The years go by so quickly, and before you know it, you’re at the back end of your career. It only seemed like yesterday when I reached the 25-year milestone and got mentioned in the Cabinet Member report for long services, now after 47 years, I am about to hang up my hat once and for all.
Thank you for recognising this!