FOR the last 35 years Irene Harris has been a mainstay of mental health services in the Winwick area, helping thousands of patients and service users on their journey towards recovery.

Last week her astonishing service ended when she retired from a volunteer role that has served at Winwick Hospital, Mersey Care and includes a meeting with the late Queen on Her Majesty’s visit to the hospital years ago. 

Irene said:- “I’ve loved every minute of it but I am looking forward to my retirement and doing nothing for a while. It’s been an amazing time volunteering and I would recommend it to anyone. To help people and see the smiles on their faces has been the most satisfying part of my time here. It’s lovely to help people out.”

Irene’s most satisfying moment during a long career of helping people came when she was shopping in a large store some years ago and was approached by a young woman who was with her mother.

Irene admitted:- “I didn’t remember her at first. She came up to me and thanked me and turned to her Mum and said:- ‘This is the lady who helped me.’ She had a very young baby when I met her living in a damp flat and I helped get her better housing. It’s moments like that which make it all worthwhile.”

Irene’s journey is all the more remarkable because it all started with a chance conversation, from a care worker. She said:- “We were all talking and they wanted volunteers so he put my hand up. Best decision I ever made.”

Trish Bennett, Chief Executive Officer at Mersey Care, said:- “Volunteers are the backbone of the NHS and without them it would be a very different service, but to have someone like Irene dedicate her whole life to helping people is truly special. People like Irene are the reason why the NHS is so fondly remembered by so many people and on behalf of everyone at Mersey Care, and I’m sure everybody she has helped, I’d like to wish her a long and happy retirement.”