A caring Slough carer
Carers are celebrating the illustrious career of a colleague, who has worked for Slough Borough Council’s for an amazing 34 years.
Shirley Evans, who started work as a Slough Home Carer in 1973, has improved the lives of hundreds of Slough’s elderly residents.
Shirley, 69, has witnessed many changes to her job and not just the people she works with. When she started people still had coal fires which needed keeping, but more recently Shirley is more likely to look after people’s personal wellbeing.
She said: “Time has flown since I first started work, it doesn’t feel that long to me, I think if you enjoy your job it makes all the difference.
“I think what has kept me going is the people I care for, I have met so many interesting characters throughout the years and there has never been a dull moment.
Up till recently Shirley even rode her bike to visit Slough clients and only stopped because she started to travel to homes with a colleague. Shirley’s daughter was that impressed by her mum that she decided to follow in her footsteps and now works in home care management at the council.
Vicky Cooper, head of service for older people and disability, said: “Shirley has been a fantastic carer, she has time for everyone and I think that is why she is liked so much by clients and colleagues alike.
“I would like to thank Shirley for the huge contribution she has made to the community and I wish her a happy retirement.”
Commissioner for social care, Cllr Derek Cryer, said: “I think what Shirley has achieved is amazing and I would like to praise the continued dedication she has showed during her career.
“I think that I speak for everyone in the council in saying that we are very grateful for all her work.”
Shirley hopes to be able to spend more time with her family in the future but feels it wont be easy to say goodbye to the job, she said: “I am looking forward to retiring but I will still miss everyone I have worked with and all the people I have cared for.
“What I am looking forward to the most is spending time with my new great-grand daughter.”
Slough Borough Council