A group of seven care workers who have clocked up an impressive 83 years of service between them, working at a residential home in Shepton Mallet, have been recognised for their dedication, care and commitment by the management team.

The long-serving staff from St Cecilia residential home had a special party thrown in their honour, and each received a card, a bouquet and a bonus payment, along with a selection of cakes from the local bakery to take home.

Those celebrated were: senior carers Tina Millard and Helen Chamberlain who have clocked up 17 and 16 years respectively; senior carer Rachael Hawkins and housekeeper Vanessa Green who have both worked at St Cecilia for 14 years; Tracy Woolfrey who has managed the home for 10 years; senior carer Zara Ho with seven years under her belt and housekeeper Charmian Hooper who has been in post for five years.

Philip White, operations manager for White Care which runs the home, said: “It was a truly joyous celebration and we were so happy to demonstrate how very much our colleagues’ commitment and loyalty to St Cecilia is appreciated.

“The loving care and support this team give to their residents is what makes St Cecilia such a wonderful happy home, and we’re really thankful to have such a great bunch of people working with us.

“Jobs in the care sector demand special qualities – most importantly, a genuine desire to care for others and help them achieve the best possible quality of life compatible with their abilities.

“It’s not an easy job, and that’s one of the reasons staff turnover in the sector is so notoriously high, so it’s incredibly gratifying to have such an amazing long-service record for our team at St Cecilia – it reflects well on the way we run our homes and the thoughtful way we recruit in the first place.

“A huge thank you to Tracy Woolfrey and her ‘veterans’ – they’re a fabulous, kind, caring team.”

Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Tracy Woolfrey said: “Receiving long-service awards has certainly made all staff feel more valued.

“It’s gratifying to have our dedicated commitment recognised by the company directors in this way.”

St Cecilia is a specialised dementia care home with capacity for 17 residents, near Shepton Mallet town centre and is one of three White Care homes, the other two being St Benedict’s in Glastonbury and The Rectory in Taunton.

Photo: L-R (back row) Rachael Hawkins, Philip White, Charmian Hooper; (front row) Helen Chamberlain, Tina Millard, Tracy Woolfrey