A LONG-serving adviser at Romsey Citizens Advice Bureau has retired.

Anne Vie, who became a volunteer with CAB in 1993 and was taken on in a paid role in 1999, waved goodbye to her colleagues at a farewell party last week.

Bristol-born Anne now plans to spend more time with husband, Richard, who is semi-retired and is the president of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology.

Anne, who lives at Timsbury, said she will miss the work but now is the right time to move on. “I will miss it dreadfully but it’s time for a younger person to take over, “ she said. “I am looking forward to pastures new with a move to Romsey and we are hoping to go travelling while we are still fit and healthy.”

During her time at the CAB she has been employed as deputy manager and advice service manager in Romsey.

Speaking about the work, Anne , 62, added: “We get people of all ages coming in seeking help. Something like 20 clients a day come through the doors at CAB. We do a lot of advice on benefit and debt. It’s not only the poor and vulnerable that come in asking for help, we get people from all walks of life in the office. Anybody can come in and ask for help. Sometimes specialist advice is needed about housing, debt and employment and CAB is there to help people.”

Before moving to the Test Valley in 1992, Anne lived abroad for ten years.

“When I came back to England I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing, so I thought I would do some voluntary work with CAB for a while. I stayed a lot longer and I got paid for it,” concluded Anne.