Longstanding Bolton Hospice volunteer, Jean, celebrated her 90th birthday last week.

Jean has volunteered at Bolton Hospice's Astley Bridge charity shop for around 16 years, starting after her husband, John, was cared for by the Hospice at Home team.

Since then, she's lost her son and daughter who were both also cared for by Bolton Hospice.  Jean says volunteering is her was of "giving back".

"I love coming to the shop, I've only recently dropped my shifts down from four to two shifts a week.  It's my way of giving back to a cause that's very important to me.

After everything the hospice has done for me and my family I wanted to help.  Some people might say that I've given enough back now but I think there's always more to give.  I'll volunteer here as long as I possibly can.

I've always been a do-er. Three months after I retired I found myself a new job and after that I started volunteering - so I suppose I've never stopped!  I like to help out the hospice but it also benefits me, too.  It's so important for me to stay social, I make sure I leave the house once a day.  My family drop me at my shifts, and I'm well looked after by the other volunteers and staff - I've met a lot of people volunteering, that's something I love.

I've also managed to encourage lots of my family to volunteer too.  If someone reading this signed up to volunteer, that would be best birthday present of all!

It was lovely to get so many messages on social media.  I used to be a manager at Asda and I even had people I worked with there, 40 years ago, reach out to wish me a happy birthday!  My family told me lots of people were asking for my secret, I'll reveal it as an exclusive... hard work!

I can't chat for too much longer, I've got a Christmas window display to finish!"

Bolton Hospice are urgently looking for new retail volunteers to work at: Astley Bridge on Sundays & Reloved, Furniture Plus and ebay any day of the week.

To volunteer, like Jean, click here