Fairy sad to go

But then Chris Cox is not just anyone - she threw on a white tutu with silver wings and sparkling wand to wave goodbye in style to her job at Grosvenor Park.

Chris sang Nobody Loves A Fairy When She's Sixty but her audience disagreed, made up as it was of residents, old friends, staff members and former colleagues who gathered to give her a good send-off.

She has been activity organiser at the residential home in Brookfield Road for 13 years, having previously worked as a teaching assistant at Down Infant school.

She felt "sad" to be leaving and said: "They are all my friends here - they are not like residents. We are a family."

She organised an impromptu afternoon entertainment which started off with singalong tunes such as Kiss Me Goodnight Sargeant Major, Run Rabbit Run, and Bless Them All. This was led by her husband John but the entire event was a family affair, with daughter Suzy Wood doing some bellydancing, mother Iris Hadlow singing Loch Lomond, her friend Hazel Abraham playing on piano, and sister-in-law Sandy Willard also on hand.

Chris said: "There are lots of past members of staff and people from Christchurch who have come along as well. It is lovely - different branches of the family all coming back together. It is lovely to have everyone together all at once."

In the audience was Elsie Igglesden of Lionel Road who said: "We knew her when she was a schoolgirl. She is the life and soul - she is lovely."