End of an era: AWTTC's Office Manager Trevor Brooking retires

31 December 2024

For those who have worked with AWTTC and AWMSG (All Wales Medicines Strategy Group) over the past two decades, Trevor Brooking has been an integral part of the team.

As Ruth Lang’s right-hand man, Trevor has been the go-to person for everything from IT and administration to estates management and if he didn’t know the answer, he always knew someone who could help.

Trevor’s journey with AWTTC began in 2007, following redundancy from Hyder/Welsh Water. However, his career started much earlier. At just 15-and-a-half years old, Trevor joined the Army as a Clerk, a role he stayed in for 25 years, ultimately leaving as Chief Clerk in 1997.

“I’ve worked in various places in Cardiff, including solicitors, Morgan Cole and Eversheds, Welsh Water, and Hyder, mostly in administration,” Trevor recalls. “In 2007, when my job was outsourced, I saw the AWTTC position advertised and decided to give it a try. I wasn’t overly confident during the interview, especially as I was the only male in an all-female environment, and my name confusion didn’t help either.”

Trevor had inadvertently introduced himself as "Trevor" instead of his birth name, "Robert," which sparked some initial confusion. The interview panel, led by Ruth Lang, asked him the usual questions, including one about minute-taking—a task Trevor candidly admitted he couldn’t do, as he didn’t know shorthand. But he was determined to make the best of it and would “wing it”.

Little did Trevor know, Ruth, after discussing the interviews with Director Professor Phillip Routledge, who recognised the name and quickly connected him to the former England international footballer, Sir Trevor Brooking. This connection proved fortuitous, and Trevor was offered the role.

“My first big task was to help facilitate the move from UHW to Llandough, which we completed by Easter 2008,” Trevor reflects. “When I started, there were just seven of us. Now, there are 45 staff members. It’s been incredible to see the growth and to know that I’ve played a part in it.”

Known for his resourcefulness, Trevor developed a reputation for being able to solve any problem—whether it was technical, administrative, or logistical. “If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll find someone who can,” he said.

“We have a strong, tight-knit team, and I’ll miss the camaraderie and job satisfaction that comes with it. But I won’t miss the 26-mile commute each way!”

Over the years, Trevor has worked extensively with AWMSG, including helping the group take its meetings on the road—a task he found particularly enjoyable. He also played a key role in the rollout of Windows 10 and more recently Windows 11 and in equipping staff with laptops to facilitate homeworking, despite not being fond of remote work himself.

Trevor’s time at AWTTC hasn’t been without its challenges. In 2014, he suffered a heart attack while at the AWTTC offices, requiring swift medical intervention from colleagues. His second major health scare came in 2019, when he was diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

“The treatment was gruelling,” he said. “I had plans to continue working through it, but it was so draining that I needed to take time off. Thankfully, I’m now five years clear. I opted to participate in a clinical trial, and I’m convinced that working at AWTTC, with its focus on medicines, played a role in my decision-making. I had the support and expertise I needed from my colleagues, which helped me choose.”

After 17 years of dedicated service, Trevor is now retiring to focus on spending more time with his family. “My decision to retire was influenced by the fact that I have three grandchildren—one in Brighton and two in Yorkshire—and I want to spend more time with them,” he said. “I’m originally from Huddersfield, but Wales has been my adopted home for the past 30 years.”

Reflecting on his time at AWTTC, Trevor expresses gratitude for the support he received from Ruth Lang, his line manager. “Ruth and I have always had the same work ethic and management style. We rarely disagreed, and when I started, there was no handbook on how to do the job. I just had to figure it out, and now I feel like I’m leaving it in good hands.”

As Trevor prepares for this new chapter of his life, he offers some parting words: “Any challenge I faced made me more determined to find a solution. I’ve always believed there’s no such word as ‘can’t.’”