Health Minister Mike Nesbitt spent a day this week working alongside refuse crews in Ards to mark half a century since he first took a summer job as a binman.
Back on familiar routes in Ards
Mr Nesbitt, who has previously spoken of alternating between university and manual work during his early years, returned to cover parts of the same route he walked in 1976. The council’s depot staff accommodated the visit, enabling the minister and a former colleague to retrace steps on streets including Bradshaw's Brae, the Scrabo Estate and the West Winds area of Ards Town.
"I was 19 and enjoying a gap year between school and university,"
The event brought together memories of those summer months and present-day reflection. Mr Nesbitt described the experience as "very liberating" and praised the depot team for their hospitality. He also highlighted the value of the work, saying it was an opportunity to focus on a vital public service: the everyday collection of household waste.
Local connections and long friendships
On returning to the lorry, Mr Nesbitt was joined by Trevor Marshall, a fellow student from those years who later pursued a career in the steel industry. The two have remained close friends since meeting on the summer rounds in the mid-1970s.
- Mr Nesbitt worked as a binman in the summers around 1976 while a student.
- Ards and North Down Council facilitated the minister’s return to the depot for a day.
- The visit included parts of the same routes served five decades ago.
| Year | Notable detail |
|---|---|
| 1976 | First summer working as a binman in Ards; remembered as a memorable period |
| 2026 | Returned with council staff to retrace parts of the route and meet depot crews |
The minister spoke warmly of the practical lessons learned at the time, saying he took away life skills and street sense from working alongside the crews. He singled out names from the original team with fondness and thanked current depot staff for facilitating the visit.
For residents, the visit served as a reminder of the human element behind routine council services. Refuse collection is a daily expectation for households, yet such hands-on demonstrations by public figures draw attention to the crews who carry out this essential work.
The council has not indicated any change to services as a result of the visit; it was presented as a one‑day initiative to celebrate personal history and public service.
