MORE than 80 years of service have been celebrated by a charity shop in Thornbury during a special party to commemorate the ‘retirement’ of four volunteers.

Friends, family and colleagues gathered for afternoon tea at Thornbury Methodist Church Hall on Tuesday to celebrate the continued work of the volunteers who give their time to Thornbury’s Oxfam shop on the High Street.

The shop celebrates its 35th year this year, and sadly says goodbye to some of its longest serving volunteers, who are all stepping down from their volunteering – 91-year-old Lily Yeo, who has been volunteering for more than 25 years, 75-year-old Pam Plenty, who has been with the shop for more than 10 years, and Jan Walters, 84, who was one of the first people to be involved with the shop.

Also being celebrated at the event was more than 10 years of service by 72-year-old Sue Punnette, who is moving away, and had previously also volunteered at the Oxfam shop in Yate, before it closed down.

Oxfam Thornbury manager Gail Whitehead said she was delighted the afternoon tea was such a success as she wanted it to be a celebration of “four wonderful women and the time they have given to the shop and the charity”.

“They have done all sorts and Oxfam would not survive without its volunteers.

“They are all very strong women and since becoming part of the shop, I have sensed a big sisterhood from them. Something I really love about working with everyone at the shop.

“A lot of our volunteers are retired professionals who continue to give a lot, and to be part of that is very special.

“They are part of the fabric of Oxfam and I am sure it will be tough to let go completely so I am sure they will be popping in from time to time, but they will be greatly missed when they aren’t turning up all the time like usual.

“Frankly I would imagine a few phone calls will still be made now and then to ask their opinion on things.”