Dozens of staff members at the Royal Star and Garter care home received long service awards last month.

The Long Service awards ceremony was held at the Surbiton care home, and in total saw 35 staff members commended for their commitment to the charity.

Royal Star and Garter provides award-winning care for veterans and their partners who live with disability or dementia.

One of those commended at the ceremony, Emrys Owen, has worked for the Charity for 36 years, joining when he was 23.

The Lead Health Care Assistant (HCA) said: "It’s mostly the people I have looked after over the years, the stories I have heard and the characters that I have met that makes the job so worthwhile. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else, it's an amazing organisation to work for."

Chief Executive of Royal Star and Garter Andy Cole was also on hand at the ceremony. He praised the staff for their dedication and said he hoped their longevity with the charity highlighted the positive relationship between the staff and the management.

Mr Cole said: "The Charity feels like a family, and staff staying with us for a long time helps so much to support this. It was an honour to personally thank everyone for their dedicated service.

"That so many people have spent such a significant part of their working lives with The Royal Star and Garter Homes is something that we are enormously proud of, and hopefully reflects well on the way that we value our staff."