After almost 56 years in the NHS, the Rev'd Di Ellerton – sometime nurse, sometime health visitor and sometime chaplain – has decided to retire. 

As well as the Chaplaincy goodbye held this week there will also be the chance to sign her card and go along to her final "do" in Holme village.

Di has worked within CHFT - or its predecessors - since 1977 and first met our co-ordinating chaplain, George Spencer, when she was a health advisor in1999.

She started training in 1963 and then went on to work on Genitourinary medicine for 22 years.

She was Ordained to the priesthood in 1994, in the first cohort of women to be ordained, she was then licensed in 2000 to be a chaplain at St Luke’s Hospital. Di moved over to HRI on the closure of St Luke’s. Di was also the Vicar of Upper Thong Parish, which she had to give up once she turned 70.

George, said: "Di will be sorely missed as a supportive, wise and humorous colleague with a gentle and caring personality. Just as Di is known in Holmfirth, where she lives, by virtually everybody there, so many know her within CHFT. "

The Chaplains held an informal cake and coffee celebration this week as stage one of saying farewell. Stage two takes place out in Holme village, Di’s neck of the woods, in early July – anyone interested in attending or wishing to donate/sign Di’s card, please contact George, chaplain.