AFTER 17 years of voluntary service at the Save the Children Charity Shop in Easton Shopping Centre, 90-year-old Mrs Kitty Fancy of Southwell has decided to retire.

It was close to Christmas 1990 that she joined in to help Mrs Elsie Wright of Weston in her enterprise to open a charity shop which, Mrs Wright said at the time, would be just for the three weeks of Advent and then, in the January, like the Three Wise Men, they would send the gift of the shop's proceeds to Save the Children.

However, there was no stopping the ladies once they got started and soon other volunteers joined them.

The popularity of the shop became evident and now, almost 17 years later, it continues to go from strength to strength. Kitty said: "We improved from day to day in raising cash from the good quality goods of all sorts donated to the shop and it was soon evident that it was fulfilling a need.

"Where we had started off with bits and pieces, we progressed to all sorts of household goods, books, jewellery and clothing, including party wear which has always proved popular for dress-up occasions and fancy dress.

"All the volunteers through the years have worked as a team and we have prided ourselves on offering a well-cared-for and well-presented stock."

A recent bout of illness, from which she has now recovered, pulled Kitty up short and brought her to the conclusion that at 90 years of age, perhaps it was time to end her selling career and, like Elsie Wright, spend her time a bit more quietly.

She is going to miss the friends she has made among staff and customers, but said: "I will still look in occasionally to find bargains."

Her daughter Margaret added: "Now we know where her winter wardrobe and our Christmas gifts will be coming from."

This doesn't mean that she will give up her interest in fundraising for a local school and Portland Guiding with which she has been associated for more than 50 years - and she has her three daughters, grandchildren and one great-grandchild to hold her interest and keep her busy.

Save the Children volunteers past and present from Portland and Weymouth and members of Kitty's family were present for her final day at the Easton shop.

Manageress Linda Clayton spoke of how much they will miss her, and presented her with a patio rose plant, aptly named 'Star Performer', along with a card signed by all members of staff.