GRANDMA Janet Cross has no plans to retire after clocking up 45 years continuous service with a Northwich firm.

Mrs Cross is a probate executive at Mosshaselhurst Solicitors in Castle Street, Northwich, which she joined in 1970 after leaving school.

She has worked there ever since, and was presented with a handbag and a bouquet on Friday to mark almost five decades of dedicated and professional service.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mosshaselhurst, which has given me the opportunity to meet a huge number of people, many of them wonderful characters who I have been able to help at one of the most sad and traumatic times in their lives,” she said.

“I have taken great pleasure and satisfaction in helping them out when they are often at their most vulnerable. I still enjoy the job, and plan to continue for the foreseeable future.”

Mrs Cross lives in Moulton, and started at the firm on June 29, 1970 straight from leaving Leftwich Girls Grammar School.

“I started with the firm when I was 17 as a junior shorthand typist, before becoming secretary for six to seven years for John Pickup [a former senior partner in the firm], and have worked in the probate department since 1984,” she said.

“When I started we used manual typewriters, which young people now wouldn’t recognise.”

Managing director Gerard Rooney presented the handbag and flowers on behalf of the partners and staff, and paid tribute to Mrs Cross.

“Janet has clocked up 45 years continuous service, and is still looking after a wide range of people with dedication and professionalism after all these years,” he said.

“She is proud of her achievements, and it is true testament to her professionalism that it is not uncommon for her to be asked by the third generation of a family to look after them when a loved one has passed away.”

Janet is married to Brian, has two sons, Steven and Robert, and two granddaughters, plays Crown Green Bowls for Moulton Royal British Legion, is a member of Moulton Drama Group and enjoys swimming and reading.