ONE of Prospect Hospice’s most dedicated volunteers is to celebrate a milestone this year.

Laura Humphries is a familiar face in the hospice’s Regent Street shop, and this July, on the eve of her 90th birthday, she will celebrate 25 years as a Prospect Hospice volunteer.

Laura, originally from Durham, moved to Swindon from York in 1952 when her late husband Edwin was stationed in Chiseldon with the Duke of Wellington Regiment.

The couple lived for many years in Lydiard Park before moving to Moredon and Pinehurst, were Laura nowl ives.

Laura was a full-time mother to her three daughters and, after they had grown up, she worked at Pine Tree Care Home for 14 years.

It was by chance that she was passing one of Prospect’s shops when they were recruiting volunteers, and she decided to pop in.

Little did she know she would still be helping out at the shops 25 years later.

Laura loves her role and can’t speak highly enough about the benefits of volunteering for the hospice.

She said: “Volunteering is a wonderful thing, especially if you’re retired, because it does you good to get out and meet people. Volunteering is a purpose of life.

“Prospect has been like a second home to me. I have enjoyed every minute of it. The staff have been wonderful and I have built up a good rapport with the customers over the years – they know me and I know them.

“It has been such a lovely experience and I would do it all over again, if I could.

“I would encourage anyone to volunteer – volunteering is a gift that gives you so much.”

Having volunteered in the shops for so many years, Laura has met some very interesting people along the way.

After meeting one of Swindon’s many mayors, she said: “They came into the shop once to buy a suit. I helped pick the right one, with some black suede shoes to match.”

Laura Williams, the manager at the Regent Street store, said: “Laura has a lot of pride in our store and loves nothing more than hearing customers compliment the shop.”