A dedicated volunteer in Surbiton has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Esme Mills celebrated her birthday on Thursday, June 28 at the Princess Alice Hospice shop in Surbiton.

The shop was decorated with huge balloons with people coming in to wish her well and look at her card from Her Majesty The Queen.

Esme has volunteered for the Hospice since 1986, first at the Kingston shop and, for the last 10 years, in the Surbiton shop which has recently moved to new premises in Victoria Road.

During the celebration, she was interviewed by Holly Droy from That’s Surrey TV and, when asked when she might stop working, she said that the shop manager, Alison Connors, ‘would have to kick her out’!

Esme, whose husband was cared for by the Hospice, works every Thursday and says she enjoys meeting new people and being with the lovely staff, volunteers and customers in the shop.

Vanessa Hill, volunteer manager added: “We’re delighted to be celebrating Esme’s centenarian birthday with her, as well as honouring her amazing achievement of volunteering with the Hospice for 32 years.

“Volunteering is fantastically rewarding and a great way to make an impact within the local community. Volunteers like Esme enable us to continue to deliver our vital specialist care and support, free of charge, to the people who need us.”