CONSULTUS, the Tonbridge agency created to provide people with domestic service from milking cows to cooking meals and domestic cleaning to typing letters, is 40 years old.

The agency was founded by Ann Stevens in 1962 after her household income collapsed following the death of her husband. The company grew rapidly and after two years acquired premises at 17 London Road, Tonbridge.

Over the years Mrs Stevens and her staff have developed a large pool of regular carers who can undertake bookings for short periods of time to augment their income.

Today, Consultus is one of the main agencies in the country providing live-in carers to the elderly and Mrs Stevens is still actively involved in the company she founded.