Tributes to council housing boss, 77
Tributes have been paid to a council’s former housing chief, who has died aged 77.
Russ Borrowman, the former director of housing with Wolverhampton Council, pioneered the idea of tenants’ groups helping to manage their estates during his 15 years with the authority.
Mr Borrowman died peacefully on September 20 at his home in the Newbridge area of the city after a short illness with a lung disease.
Mia Clark, his wife of 53 years, said her husband had always been committed to improving the well-being and lives of all council tenants in Wolverhampton.
Originally from Merseyside, he moved to Wolverhampton in 1988, having previously served as assistant director of housing in Manchester.
Earlier in his career he had worked in Tanzania, East Africa, as registrar of buildings.
“Russ was very much a glass-half-full type of character who knew everybody,” said Ms Clark.
“Russ was always very popular with tenants, councillors and staff alike, they all knew him just as ‘Russ’.
“We have had lots of messages of sympathy from tenants and councillors. Often, a council director of housing is not very popular with tenants, but they all loved Russ.”
She said improving customer care was hugely important to him, and staff were always amused about how he pronounced it ‘customer curr’ in his strong Merseyside accent.
He was also sympathetic to the needs of ethnic minority groups, she said, and was treasurer of the All Cultures, One Voice group, was set up to represent tenants from all backgrounds.
“His many achievements for tenants included a programme to install double glazed windows when many other councils regarded these as luxuries,” added Ms Clark.
“He pioneered tenant management co-operatives in Wolverhampton and, together with a handful of tenant activists, he forged a growing interest in the concept of tenants working with the housing department.
“He worked many weekends and evenings on this project and it led to the development of tenant management co-operatives which could carry out certain management functions.”
The first such organisation, New Park Village tenant management organisation, was launched in 1992 and is still running 28 years later. Similar schemes followed in the Heath Town, Burton Road and Burton Crescent, Springfield Horseshoe, Low Hill and Dovecotes areas.
When Mr Borrowman retired in 2003, the tenants of Springfield Horseshoe estate, led by well-known campaigner Anne Guest, threw a retirement party for him and his family in the tenants’ meeting room.
Miss Clark said after his retirement her husband worked tirelessly as a volunteer for Hibiscus Housing Association.
Keptreene Finch, former chief officer at Hibiscus, said Mr Borrowman was a board member of the association for more than 15 years. “His commitment to Hibiscus, its board of management, staff and residents was exemplary,” she said.
“This was a man who embraced life daily and had an impact on many lives, he will be sadly missed.”
A keen Wolves season-ticket holder, he also travelled extensively with Ms Clark through the Far East and Europe following his retirement.
He leaves two children, Rod and Hana Clara. and two grandchildren, Hardy and Mimi.
