Star baker and our legendary Project Manager Sharon Appleby served up a tremendous spread for her emotional farewell coffee morning after 41 years in the NHS yesterday.

Paul Hollywood would have been wowed at the gateaux - all hand-made by Sharon - which included Lemon and Elderflower, Pistachio and Rose and Champagne and Strawberry (and they were just the big ones).

There were tears at an emotional Coffee Morning on the top floor at Acre Mills as Sharon bowed out for a life of travel and family.

Sharon said in her 41 years in the NHS she recognised her colleagues were the "nicest, most committed and hardworking people". She said: "I leave the NHS in safe hands at exciting times as time moves on. I will miss you all."

The Trust's Director of Transformation, Anna Basford, said Sharon had set the bar for service change at the Trust, for "getting it done properly, for rolling up her sleeves and making things happen."

She hailed Sharon's "resilience and tenacity" and said the cardio/respiratory recent changes were "the best example of well-executed significant change in our organisation. We will keep that as a model of how we do it well."

Amid emotional scenes, Sharon was presented with a huge hamper and selection of goodies to support her love of baking, growing and sustainability.There was also a jam-making kit, a Brewery Tour with lunch, Natural Home book ,strawberry pot, cinema vouchers, prosecco, scented candle, garden seeds, hand cream and soap.

Before she left, she shared memories of her 41-years in the NHS.... which harked back to when it was ok to smoke in the lab, a coffin and how she's off to California despite Thomas Cook! .

She started in the NHS in pathology in June 1978, two weeks before her 18th birthday. She saw the job advertised in the local paper on Tuesday for a Junior Medical Lab Technician, phoned on Wednesday, had an interview on the Thursday (in her school uniform!) and started the Monday afterwards! Just had time off to finish A-levels,

She has worked in several Trusts but came to CHFT 20 years ago as a Senior Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology. Later became Pathology Manager then five years ago moved to work with PwC to establish the Programme Management Office, supporting innovation and service change.

She recalls: "The changes in the NHS over this time are huge! I remember in my early years as a young scientist, lots of people in the lab smoked and it was common to see burning cigarettes on the edge of a lab bench while staff were doing tests.

"Working in the lab was always fun. When I was being trained on how to process poo samples, I remember Elaine sniffing the pot then licking the sample' off the little plastic spoon. It was chocolate of course and everyone found it hilarious "

At one point, in Oldham hospital, she achieved a very proud moment winning best production for The Monster Mash' where the lab coats were dyed in the lab steamer and states dept made a black coffin and mock gravestones!

She achieved an MSc in Managing Health & Social Care with distinction and while having some time off with her young children, did an Open University degree in Environmental Science in 1990.

She recalls: "That was where I first heard debates on Climate change. This has stayed with me and we try to live minimising waste. My coffee morning had compostable plates and cups which will be going on the allotment later!!"

She's also proud of the Transforming Outpatients' project for the HSJ award being judged this week. "The work will improve the experience for thousands of people and it's been an amazing 18 months. Award Ceremony in November so fingers crossed."

So, what next for Shazza?

"Lots of adventures! There's a big world to explore. California after rearrangingThomas Cook flights this week. Then three weeks in India and a month Inter-railing next year. I want to become more self sufficient making a growing things. We also have new babies and golden oldies to love. I've never been bored in my life so don't expect to be now."