On Saturday the 2nd of February, we donned the retirement banners and balloons to say goodbye and thank you to our Director of Finance for 26 years of wonderful service to Independent Options.

Madeleine started with us back in 1988, when the first ever Red Nose Day was being put into production, when work had just begun on the Channel Tunnel, and the £1 note had been withdrawn from production.

She started on our admin team, as a short term resolution to working whilst the kids were in school. She thought she’d only be with us for a couple of years!

She thought she’d only be with us for a couple of years! 26 years, grown up children and a qualified acountancy later, she was still here and a fantastic job she did too.

So as we say goodbye to Madeleine, here is her final interview:

What are your first memories of Independent Options?

Being kissed in the kitchen at the Pines by one of the guests while waiting for my interview and not being sure if it was one of the tests.

How has Independent Options changed over your time?

Enormously, there were only 16 staff and one service (Short Breaks at The Pines) when I started and everything was very casual, handwritten etc. I didn’ t even have a desk and chair, but I did have an Amstrad computer (thanks Sir Alan!) not that it did very much. Today I think we are very professional and I would be pleased to show any of our services to anyone.

What has been the highlights of your career?

This is quite difficult because there are loads, but I was very proud when we finally purchased The Pines from the council, after 2 years of legal wrangling, as this meant that we would always have a firm base to run the services from.

Who is the most memorable person that you have worked with and why?

because he rescued the organisation from decline and set up every service, other than Short Breaks, that we run today, and he did it for the service users

What will you miss the most?

All the friendly staff we have.

What are you going on to do next?

I’m going to relax at first then I’d like to do some travelling and maybe I will do some voluntary work. Possibly apply to the Great British Bake off (after a bit more practising)

Any funny stories?

Some that I can’t put in here.

From all at Independent Options, we wish Madeleine a happy and relaxing retirement!