She joined the organisation as a volunteer in the New Malden day centre, has worked consistently as a volunteer in every part of the organisation and continues to have a hands-on role organising the weekly lunch club in Chessington.

Between 1984 and 1998 Anne was Chair of Malden and Coombe Old People’s Welfare Association (one of the predecessors to Age Concern, Kingston) and was instrumental in bringing the Malden and Kingston old people’s charities together to establish Age Concern Kingston upon Thames.

In 1989 she led the team negotiating the merger with the Malden and Coombe Housing Association which led to the acquisition of Abbotsford and Raleigh House.  She then spearheaded the fundraising to renovate Raleigh House and to build the associated day centre.

Anne has served on many borough-wide committees, including as an advisory member of the Social Services Committee, the Community Health Council’s Working Party for Older and Disabled People, and chaired the Registration and Inspection Panel from its inception.

During the past four years Anne has had considerable personal experience as a carer, as a result of which she has been in contact with a wide range of local services and with the people using them.  This has given her an even greater understanding of the issues faced by older and vulnerable people, and of the importance of readily accessible information and advice.

Anne says, “With our highly qualified, professional and knowledgeable staff, backed up by dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, ACKuT is now ideally placed to provide an outstanding service to the older people of Kingston at a time when many changes are being made to services nationally and locally.”