RESIDENTS and staff at a Bromsgrove care home waved farewell to one of their favourite carers after 32 years.
There were plenty of tears and smiles when night care assistant Vivian Maddox hung up her uniform at the tender age of 77 last week.
Vivian first started work at Sanctuary Care’s Breme Residential Care Home, on Providence Road, on November 15 1982 and since then has made many friends.
To give Vivian the send off she deserved after three decades of loyal service her friends, colleagues and the home’s residents threw her a surprise party.
Vivian now plans to spend more time with husband Cyril at their Bromsgrove home enjoying her garden, her six grandchildren and even her great grandchild 11-month-old Liam.
One resident 90-year-old Gwen Woolley holds a very special place in Vivian’s heart as her life-long friend and even had Vivian as one of her bridesmaids during her wedding in 1950 to her husband Dennis, who also lives at the home.
Gwen said: “I am very sorry to see her go, but it’s about time she retired.
“Viv is a very generous person and has looked after us very well.”
Home manager Denise Clark said: “We are so sorry to see Vivian go – she is just fantastic with our residents, she just has this calming way about her and feels real empathy – she is very caring.
“Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and she has always put the home first – and she has always got a smile on her face.”
Catering manager Ange Hobbins, who has worked with Vivian for 20 years, added: “Vivian is just a lovely person all round.
“She is very caring and sympathetic to people’s needs and is very loyal. I think she’s going to find it hard not being at work because Breme has been a big part of her life for over 30 years.”
Vivian said: “A big thank you to everyone, I have really enjoyed my time at Breme – I will be sad to go and I will miss everyone so, so much.”
Vivian Maddox, on the far right, at Gwen and Dennis Woolley’s wedding in 1950. (s)
