STAFF at Tavistock Hospital this week paid tribute to two valued and popular colleagues who are about to retire.

Trained nurse Heather Blacher, who works in the surgical unit and Annie Snell, a stalwart of the housekeeping team, have more than 80 years between them of dedicated service to the National Health Service.

Heather, who lives in Milton Abbot, joined Tavistock Hospital as an auxiliary nurse in 1970 and went to Plymouth in 1971 initially at Mount Gould Hospital to start her orthopaedic nurse training. This was closely followed by general nurse training before she returned to Tavistock Hospital where she has worked ever since!

Heather has had experience in all the departments over the years including the medical wards, the minor injury unit and all the various outpatients clinics.

Fellow scrub nurse Jenny Base, who has worked with the women for many years, said of Heather: 'It would be true to say her speciality is all things surgical and it is rather fitting that with the relatively recent arrival of regular orthopeadic surgery at the hospital, she has come full circle!

Annie, from Tavistock, has also covered every department in her role on the housekeeping team.

Jenny said of Annie: 'She must know every inch of the building! Her standards are very high.

'Indeed the team have won much praise over the years for keeping the hospital in such good order, it's an old building with lots of nooks and crannies but Annie knows every one of them! She is also very conscientious.'

Her dedication shone through when a few years ago on the way to work, in the snow and on foot she tripped and fell while inching her way down an alley and broke her leg quite badly.

Annie had to crawl back home to raise the alarm. Some of her colleagues thought she may decide not to return to work but they were proved wrong and she came back as good as new.

Jenny said: 'Their leaving will herald the end of an era, they will both be sadly missed, but everyone wishes them a very long and happy retirement.'