HOSPICE stalwart Jean Lewis described it as ‘the end of an era’ on Friday for her and five fellow charity shop volunteers.

Jean, 86, from Castle, has worked at the St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice shop in Northwich for 28 years.

It was her last day on Friday, after she decided to leave because she said she was ‘unhappy’ about the way the hospice management wanted to run the shop.

Jean met up with five other volunteers who have also decided to leave, the six women having worked at the hospice shop in town for a combined 114 years.

Jean said they met up at the shop to wish all the best to the shop manager on her last day, with the hospice confirming there would be ‘a staff change’ in the shop.

“It was a very emotional day, and I came home and had a good cry,” said Jean.

“The shop and hospice have been part of my life for 34 years, and I shall miss it desperately.”

The hospice said that it was sad to lose the volunteers, whose departure comes in the wake of a review of costs across the hospice, including its charity shops.

“We are truly very sad to understand that the volunteers in our Northwich charity shop feel they are no longer able to help us,” said Steven Holmes, the charity’s head of retail.

“We have written to each of them to offer our thanks for the help and commitment they have generously given over the years.

“Over the past few months St Luke’s Hospice has been undergoing a period of organisational change.

“This has involved looking at improving efficiencies and reducing costs across all areas of the hospice.

“As part of the hospice, our charity shops – St Luke’s Hospice Trading Ltd – were included in this process.

“Over this time we have consulted with all staff affected, and have held volunteer forums to support communication.

“The hospice remains in a difficult financial position, and we are working to ensure we deliver a balanced budget next financial year, 2017/18.

“Throughout the organisational change process our priority has, and remains, our patients and their families.

“The care we offer is only made possible because of the donations we receive, so support from our community is vital to ensure we are here in the future, and the support of volunteers is an integral part of this too.”

He said St Luke’s charity shops were its ‘window to the community’.

He said: “For many people this can be the only contact they have with the hospice, so it is important to us we have a shop in Northwich and other towns.

“Our charity shops are predominantly supported by volunteers who give their time so kindly.

"We offer assurance to our supporters, to everyone currently receiving support from St Luke’s and those who may turn to us in the future, that there has been no impact on the services we offer and we continue to offer all our care services, including our 10 beds at the hospice."