Two Fife women have been honoured for their combined 40 years of service with Bield Housing & Care at this year’s annual general meeting.

Retirement housing manager, Carol Parker, has been acknowledged for her 25 years of service with the housing provider alongside Jeannie Gallacher - who was recognised for 15 years - at the company’s AGM in Edinburgh last week.

Carol, 60, originally joined Bield in 1993 as an assistant at Perth’s Quayside Court development. She then moved onto her current role at Carlow Court in Leven where she has been for the past 23 years.

Carol said: “My time here has gone very quickly. It doesn’t feel like 25 years at all. I’ve certainly never been bored.

“I’ve met a lot of characters over the years too - both tenants and staff. I have experienced times of laughter, but equally times of sadness.

“I’m always on my toes though as things can change very quickly. One minute it can be quiet and the next I can be dealing with an emergency. I can never tell what’s going to happen next.”

Jeannie, 65, started working for Bield as an evening scheme assistant in 2001, but moved on to take up permanent work. In her current role as a cook, she helps to prepare meals for the tenants at Carlow Court, making a three course lunch and a dinner for 18 people each day.

Jeannie said: “As soon as I started taking up casual work for Bield, I knew I was doing something worthwhile and it really is a rewarding job.

“I have lots of different memories of my time at Bield, but what really sticks out is how supportive the staff were following my husband’s death.

“Everyone rallied around me and welcomed me back with open arms when I returned. There’s very few places where you would get staff that are as nice as here.”