Care home in Hoxne celebrates long-serving staff
Staff at Depperhaugh Care Home near Eye who have served over 100 years at the home between them.Pictured in front is Barry Freeman and Bridget Muttock who have been there over 30 years each. - Credit: Eastern Daily Press © 2015
When Barry Freeman and Bridget Muttock started work at The Depperhaugh care home, the romance of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was making headlines and the Falklands War was still in the future.
They are the longest serving employees at the care home in Hoxne, near Diss, with 35 and 34 years' service respectively – but they are not alone in considering themselves part of the furniture at the former manor house.
In an age when people tend to move from job to job quickly, another 10 members of staff at the Kingsley Healthcare-run home have clocked up a combined service of 238 years.
Mrs Muttock, 78, who progressed from being a carer to senior carer before taking on the role of a cleaner, has no doubt about the staff's longevity secret.
She said: 'We are all such a happy bunch. I can't keep away and call it my second home. I love looking after the old people.
'However, there have been some big changes over the years.
'When I started we had lord and ladies staying here; each resident had a bell to ring and there was silver service at dinner time.'
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Mr Freeman, 52, the gardener and groundsman, said: 'I love the countryside. Coming to work here you see all sorts of wildlife from deer to squirrels.'
Kitchen assistant Tilly Sharman, 51, has clocked up 22 years' service in two spells and Kerry Chenery, 35, is a carer with 17 years' service, said: 'We have grown together like a family. We have all been here so long.'
The other long service staff are Sandra Moss, 23 years' service, Nicky Davies, 17 years, Karen Nunn, 25 years, Angela Bailey, 21 years, Christine Dinnage, 27 years, and Shane Leeder, 17 years.
Has you company got a long-serving employee? Email anthony.carroll~@archant.co.uk
