Sheila Brierley's bowing out after more than 50 years of voluntary service and a day before her 90th birthday. 

Our recruitment assistant, Charlotte Collinson, who also co-organises our volunteers, said Sheila had been a wonderful asset. " Without her support I think it would be a very different place. On a personal note Anya (Macbeth, also from volunteers) and myself have enjoyed getting to know Sheila and we hope that she continues to involve herself with the Trust as much as she physically can in the same smiling, voluntary way. We've absolutely loved having her"

Sheila's eyes flooded up with tears when CEO Owen Williams tuned up.  "Sheila, I just can't thank you enough for your dedicated service. It means so much," he said.

Sheila started doing voluntary service years ago first in the library at St Lukes and then in Storthes Hall when it was a Psychiatric Hospital. Her late husband, Raymond, used to play the organ to all the patients - whatever they asked for he played. 

She came to HRI and it's been so long she's forgotten how long she's been here. Her first position, was downstairs at what used to be the going home zone, making tea and coffees for the patients waiting to go home. 

She was a worsted warper in weaving before she retired to join us as a volunteer.

She added: "I am going to miss it terribly. I'll be relaxing more and I have a 'surprise' do arranged by my family. I've got two sons, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. So I guess I'll  be spending as much time as I can with them. They're so good to me they really are great. My grandson's wife, Christine, is a nurse in the Trust at CRH. I love them all."