A lifetime in the construction industry has come to an end with plans for family time, travel and biker road trips for our Durham region’s customer care manager Rob Carr.

Rob, who has headed up the team at the Bowburn office for the last decade, says retirement has come slightly earlier than he anticipated, but he is looking forward to the freedom it brings. “We have been fortunate that my wife, Lesley, and I have both been able to retire at the same time, slightly sooner than we expected, and we are looking forward to the next chapter of our lives,” said Rob, 58. It is a luxury to be able to wake up in the morning without having to think about all the work appointments and tasks that have to be completed each day, but I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed my job with customer care.I have worked in construction all my career and have been a site manager so working in an office and coming home clean and dry at the end of a day’s work was definitely preferable!”

Rob, who lives in Bishop Auckland, added: “We are lucky that our son and daughter live nearby and we have two grandchildren, so as soon as we are able we will be making the most of being able to see them and enjoying our family. I am also a petrolhead and enjoy looking after our cars and my motorbike. Lesley doesn’t share my interest in the bike – she only went 10 yards on the back of it once and that was enough for her – but she is happy for me to be out on road trips with my club. In the past it has always been a case of having to be back for work on Monday, but weare planning a bike trip to the Dambusters Memorial in the Peak District and up to Scotland where some of our sister club’s members own B&Bs we can use as a base to explore. Lesley and I will enjoy doing our own things as well as doing things together – the same as we have for the 22 years we have been together and we are looking forward to it.”

Richard Cook, managing director of Persimmon Homes Durham, said: “Rob has been a much valued and appreciated member of our team in the Durham region and he will be missed. As well as his professional knowledge and expertise he was a great personality to have in the office and I am certain we will be keeping in touch with him. Everyone wishes him and Lesley well for their retirement and Rob safe travels on his adventures with his bike.”

To find out about other job opportunities at Persimmon visit the website.