Goodbye to Jane

At the end of July everyone at Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin will say goodbye to Jane Meredith, Head of Planning & Performance, as she retires after almost 27 years loyal service.

All those who have met Jane will know about her passion for caring for older people and her advocacy for volunteering in the community. She’s also widely recognised as “the font of all knowledge” with regards to the charity or the person working tirelessly “behind the scenes” to ensure that all its services can be provided safely, efficiently and following best practice.

To celebrate Jane’s achievements and wish her well in retirement her colleagues organised a farewell party in Shrewsbury.

Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, said: “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Jane for many years. I would like to express my gratitude for the huge contribution she has made to this organisation and acknowledge the positive impact her work has had on the welfare of older people in Shropshire.”

Jane first joined the organisation in September 1998, as maternity cover for a Receptionist/Secretary; then progressed to Office Manager before taking on her current role which she describes as “a diverse job of extremes”.

“My career has developed in parallel with the charity,” said Jane. “I have absolutely loved working here as everyone collaborates as a team and genuinely cares for the older people in our communities.”

“I loved working on reception; interacting with and helping people gives great reward and satisfaction. I have also loved working with volunteers. They really are the life-force of the organisation, and they bring with them a wealth of experience and skills and their commitment is inspiring.”

“However, it’s now time to pass on the baton and I’m sure that others will refine and further develop the processes and documents that I’ve initiated.”

Jane says she has many happy memories from her working life but now intends to spend her retirement relaxing with family and friends before tackling some overdue tasks around the house and garden. Jane is also a bookworm, with a particular fondness for detective fiction and psychological thrillers. With a wealth of anecdotes and stories from her career she may even have time now to write a book of her own!

“Over the years, the charity has faced many challenges and today is no different,” considered Jane. “However, the leadership is strong and the staff second to none so I’m sure the charity will continue to retain its core values and go from strength to strength.”