Long serving Wakefield NHS workers retire

Two NHS workers retired today after a combined total of 56 years of supporting people with mental health problems and their carers in Wakefield.

59 year old Ian Wilson, from Sandal and his colleague 59 year old Ann Clarke from Ossett both worked at the Garden Street Centre, Wakefield – a day centre for people with mental health problems. Nurse counsellor Ann has clocked up 30 years NHS service and Ian – a community link worker – has worked in the NHS for 35 years. Both Ian and Ann have previously worked at the now closed Stanley Royd hospital.

Speaking about her career Ann said, "I’ve enjoyed all aspects of nursing but most particularly counselling individual clients where the rewards have been seeing clients achieve their goal and return to living a more normal life."

Ian says, "I’ve enjoyed being able to help clients re-learn old skills and new ones, introducing clients to old and new activities and hobbies within the community and helping them to live life to their highest level possible and take their rightful place in the community."

Staff from South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust got together to say goodbye to Ian and Ann at a special retirement party.

The pair both have exciting plans for their retirement; Ann will be travelling to Spain, the Caribbean, Kenya and the Canary Islands. Ian will be living in Thailand but coming back to Wakefield often to watch Wakefield Wildcats.