MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER - Farewells

The past few days have see a number of farewell events for two of our directors who are leaving after long and distinguished service to the Somerset Care Group. Audrey Derrick has been with the Company since it was formed and has been a very active non executive director for much of that time having moved on from her operational role in the late nineties. She has been intricately engaged in the development of our business more recently as Vice Chairman of the Group and as Chairman of Acacia Training and Development Ltd. Her experience, judgement, wise counsel and absolute commitment to the Company have been key factors in its success.

Also bidding farewell has been John Parrott, our long serving Director of Finance and Development. John has been an executive director of the Group for all its twenty years, having moved out from Somerset County Council with the team that established the Company in 1991. As a deeply experienced finance director John has steered all the investments and developments that the Group has undertaken with immense skill. He is retiring from his main role but will remain in touch for the time being as a director of YourLife Management Services.

Both John and Audrey have been attending farewell parties across the Group. Here they are cutting the cake at the Somerset Care Managers farewell lunch on 22 September.

On Monday John was surprised by the Central Office Staff who arranged a "Car Park Party" with food, fun and games. John was presented with a number of meaningful gifts including a book of messages and pictures from throughout the Group.

We send both Audrey and John off to the land of retirement with our fondest best wishes and thanks for all the wonderful work they have done to help make Somerset Care Group such a successful organisation.

John, Alyson and Audrey with AL at the Farewell Lunch.