COLLEAGUES have paid tribute to a long-serving NHS worker in Bromsgrove who has retired after 41 years of service.

Sewellyn Douglass-James, from Redditch, retired on Thursday following more than four decades in the health service where she worked in estates and facilities.

She started her career as an assistant cook at Manor Hospital, on August 4 1980, before moving onto her first managerial role at Wolverhampton Eye Hospital.

She has worked in Worcestershire for the past 28 years and has spent the final chapter of her career working at Herefordshire & Worcestershire NHS Health & Care Trust as Facilities Manager, mainly based at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital.

The 60-year-old also served as secretary for the Hospital Caterers Association for many years.

Her colleagues in Bromsgrove held an emotional celebration to mark her final day and paid tribute to their friend and colleague, known affectionately as Sew, where she was presented with a cake decorated with her beloved camper van.

Colleague Jackie Bunn said: "It was emotional, we are a really close team.

"We would like to thank Sew for all her hard work, and commitment to the NHS over the last 41 years and she will be greatly missed by all of her work family. "

Outside of work, Sewellyn has travelled all over the world helping elephants in Thailand, young children in Cambodia and cleaning beaches in Costa Rica.

She has also volunteered for over six years for the Redditch Cat Rescue.

Her colleagues said Sew is looking forward to enjoying her retirement with the hope of travelling the UK and hopefully further afield in a camper van.