Just rewards for a life time of dedicated care

Great-grandmother Jacqueline Hanvey, who lives on the Woodloes estate, was the first member of staff at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust – which looks after mental health needs across Warwickshire – to gain a 50 years’ long service award.

The 68-year-old, who was recently presented with her certificate, took on her first role in the NHS as a 16-year-old cadet in 1960, before being trained as a nurse and starting work at the Central Hospital near Warwick.

Now based at Stratford Hospital, Mrs Hanvey, on receiving her award, was put forward by the trust to be a guest at the Queen’s Jubilee garden party at Buckingham Palace in May.

She said: “I am over the moon. I have just become a great-grandmother, so with the 50 years’ service award and this garden party, it’s a pretty good year for me!”

Mrs Hanvey, who has also received awards for 20, 30 and 40 years’ service, is a health care assistant for patients with dementia. She knew she wanted to work in the NHS from when she was a schoolgirl, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a health care worker.

And now her son is a senior operating department assistant at Warwick Hospital.

She said: “I love working with the older people. I am widowed and fit and healthy, so it gets me out of the house. I like to see the smiles on older people’s faces - especially those with dementia.”

Mrs Hanvey was presented with her certificate by trust chairman Martin Gower at a ceremony in Coventry and will head to Buckingham Palace on May 29.

She said: “I am taking my daughter Michelle. I bought an expensive outfit for her wedding which is still hanging in the wardrobe - so this will be a perfect opportunity for me to wear it again. I even have a hat!”

But Mrs Hanvey will retire next year, just before she turns 70. She said: “It will be strange, but I shall get used to it.”