A DEDICATED employee from Alvechurch has retired more than 45 years after joining family-run business Scrivens Opticians and Hearing Care.

Hearing services manager Maureen Price, 69, started in 1972 as personal assistant to the optical general manager and went on to develop her skills in administrative roles at the company’s Birmingham head office.

For a number of years she helped to recruit people to train as hearing aid dispensers and was involved with the training programme.

To support her knowledge of the work involved, Maureen studied the theory of hearing herself and gained a qualification from the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists.

She went part-time three years ago but has now decided to call time on her spell at the family firm.

Maureen said: “Scrivens has been a great company to work for and allowed me to develop the roles I was given. I will miss it and the people here, but it is time to move on.”

Retirement will allow more family time and holidays, plus her continued involvement with Hillside at Alvechurch WI.

Maureen also volunteers to help children with their reading at St Andrew’s Primary School, Barnt Green.

Scrivens chairman Nicholas Georgevic said: “She is a popular figure at head office and will be missed by all her colleagues. We wish her a long and happy retirement.”