We’ve said farewell to two long-serving members of staff – one to spend more time with her neglected garden (and family), as the other returns home to the emerald isle.

Hilary Roberts, 58, joined us as a medical secretary 20 years ago.

Her ambitions lead her to manage all the secretaries for eight years before she moved into clinical management and was the service manager for respiratory and cardiology.

Retiring will not only allow the mum-of-two to spend more time with her family, including her two—year-old granddaughter, she’ll also be able to tackle her neglected garden, and relish not having to get up at 5.30am.

She said: “I have an elderly mum in Scotland, a granddaughter here and a neglected garden, so I’ll be kept very busy and it’ll mean I’ll be more accessible to my family.

“My husband is also looking forward to me being less stressed.”

As for her long service with us, Hilary, from Brentwood, added: “Good colleagues and a great manager, that’s the big thing.”

She leaves alongside ward sister Bridget Dillon, 40. Bridget joined us 17 years ago, training as a staff nurse at the former Oldchurch Hospital.

She’d moved over from her home in Ireland to train and make the most of the job opportunities here – but she always hankered to return home someday.

After becoming a sister, and specialising in caring for older people and two children, aged eight and five, she’s finally going home.

She said: “I came here to train and I ended up staying. I think it’s the people I’ve enjoyed most and that’s what’s kept me here.

“I’m really looking forward to going home, and the children are really excited.”