Homecall's Jenny bows out

Jenny steered the charity, which supports the blind and partially sighted, through troubled waters when it lost funding and she won enough backing for Homecall to survive and even thrive.

She joined as a volunteer in 1998, became coordinator in 2000 when Homecall went countywide, then scheme manager in 2008 when the charity scaled down.

Homecall had by then achieved The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in June 2006, when the charity was deemed worthy of special recognition.

She said this week: “I have loved it. It has been a real privilege to support blind and partially sighted people. It is time that I retired, and that’s part of the journey.

“I have had wonderful support from the volunteers. They are the ones who do it week in week out.

“I wish Maureen the very best and every success in her new role.

“With the continued support of so many clubs, organisations, and individuals in town Homecall will be able to continue in Bexhill for a very long time to come.”

She added: “I have loved meeting so many interesting people. This elderly population we have is tremendously interesting and they have led wonderful lives. It has been a privilege really - but you can’t do it without the volunteers.”

Maureen commented: “I think Jenny is going to be a very hard act to follow. I’ve just been three months here and it has made me realise how many skills are needed just to perform the role and how Jenny has pulled all that together.”

PICTURED Jenny Private (right) and Maureen Daley