A DEDICATED worker has waved goodbye to her role with East Renfrewshire Council after 26 years of service.

Customer services assistant Frances Healy bid farewell to her colleagues at the council’s Eastwood headquarters as she looked forward to retirement.

And there were celebrations all round for the long-serving receptionist, as she celebrated her 65th birthday on the same day.

Frances started her career with the council in 1992 as a member of the office staff at St Ninian’s High.

Having spent 10 years at the school, she joined the council’s Customer First team in 2002, initially in the Barrhead offices before moving to the reception at Eastwood five years later.

Frances, who has two children, said: “I loved working in the school but the Customer First role really appealed to me because I liked the idea of being the first point of contact for people, putting customers’ needs first and always going the extra mile – and that remained my focus.

“I think it’s extremely important that, when residents enter the council building, they are welcomed and assured they will be helped in any way we can.

“I will miss interacting with our customers and the job satisfaction this gives me, as well as all my colleagues and friends.

“Working for Customer First has been amazing and it’s been a really happy place to work.”

Before joining the council, Frances enjoyed a career working for the NHS, including roles managing medical records, as an A&E receptionist and as an auxiliary nurse.

Council chief executive Lorraine McMillan said: “Frances is well known by so many of our residents and will be missed by us all. It has been fantastic to have her as part of our Customer First team for the past 16 years. Her friendly and welcoming nature is such an asset for this role.”