A GROUP of four women, who have a combined working age of more than 125 years, have retired together.
Pam White, Lorraine Francis, Carrol Jackson and Sue White have worked as driving attendants for vulnerable adults for Barnsley Council for a total of 126 years between them.
They said their final farewells to the job last Friday where they celebrated with a leaving party attended by colleagues past and present.
The four of them have already made some arrangements as to what they’re going to do during their retirement.
Lorraine, 67, from Pinehall Drive, Monk Bretton, said: “We’re going to go on day trips and have some well earned rest and just enjoy the time really. We might be going on a trip to Poland, nothing’s booked yet it was just an idea that we’ve got.”
Carrol, 63, of Greenfoot Lane, added: “We’re also planning on going to Leeds for afternoon tea together some time soon.”
Having worked in the job for so long they have all said that they are going to miss it and the people they have worked with.
Pam, 68, from Cope Street, Barnsley, said: “I’ve loved it, every day was different and we never knew what we were going to come across.”
Sue, 64, of Northgate, Wilthorpe, said: “I’m really going to miss the clients that we work with and the other staff who work here. The best thing about the job was the laughs that we’ve had,.”
Terry Smith, who is the manager at Smithies Lane depot said: “They are extr-emely knowledgeable, knowing their jobs inside out. Reliable, efficient and they have been a credit to the team. This is a challenging job. It’s not just turning up and driving a bus.
“There is a definite care element involved. Some days, they will have been the only people those they are transporting will have seen during the day and the job becomes a lifeline for social interaction.”
