WHEN Wyre Forest Community Housing took over 6,000 council houses at the end of March the move represented a sea change for Chris Lewis.

Chris, of Dunlin Drive, Kidderminster, had been a council tenant representative for 20 years ever since she first moved to a brand new home on the pleasant Spennells housing estate.

The story started with a leaky roof gutter and problems finding "the man" responsible for repairs.

But Chris is, as she describes herself, nothing if not "tenacious" and finally won the long battle to get the job done.

Her personal qualities, including efficiency skills gained from her former work in an insurance broker's office, were welcome on the Tenants Consultative Committee.

It met every so often to sort out repair problems and to suggest possible improvements.

It was not too demanding on her time although she remembers a constant battle for council money that grew worse in recent times cementing her view that a housing company could offer a better deal.

After being nominated for the housing company board last year, her skills and dedication were further recognised in July when she was elected chairman.

Chris said: "I like to be busy and involved in challenging projects.

"This is was an exciting opportunity and I enjoy working with an excellent team."

But the post is a far cry from the old days of the TCC.

Chris describes how she sat up late studying the roles and responsibilities of the board in the gruelling training period leading up to the transfer.

Subjects covered everything from financial and estate management to rent setting, leasehold policy and public relations.

Being on the board means working with a solicitor, banker and an accountant in addition to tenants and district councillors.

The post, though voluntary and unpaid is more like a professional job and leaves Chris little time for old hobbies like photography and enjoying the countryside.

Chris, part retired and with one grandchild, comes from Bewdley.

She worked in insurance until motherhood kept her at home for about 16 years.

After a divorce she changed her life completely taking a job with a grain merchant.

The expertise she gained led her to the Government grain inspectorate where she continues to play an expert role ensuring grain is of good quality when it is shipped to other countries.

She reflects: "It does hit me sometimes. I never thought I would end up a grain inspector - still less a board member of a housing company with 8,000 tenants and a workforce of 350!"