The founder of two charity branches for Parkinson’s Disease sufferers has retired.

Madeleine Thomas, from Capel-le-Ferne, founded the Folkestone division of Parkinson’s UK in 1980.

She created a sister group in Dover exactly 20 years later.

Mrs Thomas was secretary for many years and the Dover and Folkestone sections today thrive as a merged group.

Fellow charity members held a farewell party for Mrs Thomas at the Ramada Hotel in Whitfield.