A WOMAN who has always gone above and beyond the call of duty in her work at an old folks’ home has finally decided to call it a day – at the age of 79.

Norma Croft has been known to walk two miles from her home in the snow to get to work in winter, hasn’t missed a day’s work through sickness in 30 years and never takes all her annual holiday.

She is also known for her skill at saving money and has saved North Yorkshire County Council a lot of cash over the years.

She recycles everything and is good at mending things - and will never send anything for repair before she has had chance to check it herself to determine if there really is a problem.

But she will finally retire from her role as business support administrator at Brentwood Lodge in Leyburn at the end of this month. The Lodge is closing and residents are moving to the nearby Kirkwood Hall extra care scheme.

“Norma has been so well regarded by the staff and people who live at Brentwood,” said the county’s executive member for adult social care, Cllr Clare Wood.

“We all want to mark the end of her long and dedicated career working in public service and for her local community.

“Norma is such an active person and highly competent in all she does, and we are sure she will continue with her boundless energy and commitment to benefit all the groups with which she is involved. We wish her a long and very happy retirement.”

Norma was born in the Old Horn Inn, Spennithorne and still lives in a cottage in the village. She loves walking, has been a WI member since she was 15 and is treasurer for her church in the village.

“I have always been community minded,” she said.

“I believe in helping to make the community a better place for people and improving the lives of others.”

Brentwood Lodge manager Karen Stephens said: “I think what makes Norma special is the absolute dedication she shows in everything she does. She always goes above and beyond the call of duty and thinks nothing of it, if it is for the good of others.

“Norma spent many years hosting bingo nights in her own time and has fundraised for our residents in so many other ways over the years.”

She added: ‘‘Norma may have come as a clerical assistant at the beginning but there is not one job other than providing hands on care that she has not undertaken in this building.”