A couple who have clocked up almost 100 years work between them are retiring within weeks of each other.

Derek Burrows retired from his job as a school groundsman last week after 45 years and his wife Christine will have her last day at Boots in High Street, Sheerness, next Saturday after 41 years.

It will be Christine’s 57th birthday on her last day and her colleagues will be throwing her a party which former colleagues have also been invited to.

The couple, who live in Berridge Road, Sheerness, are born and bred Islanders and are looking forward to spending some together during retirement.

Christine started at Boots aged 15 when it was known as Timothy Whites and Taylors Ltd and was on the opposite side of the high street.

The purpose-built store opened where it is now about 29 years ago and Christine moved with it.

During her time at the company, she has worked in all sorts of different departments including the chemist and photo sections.

She also spent many years as a team manager until she went part-time more recently and worked as a health care advisor.

Over the years Christine has seen many changes – from having lots of staff to not as many and also she says there are more young customers now as well as older ones.

She still has some customers from when she first started and although she doesn’t know them all by name – she calls everyone Sweet Pea – which is what her colleagues know her as.

Christine said: “We have had some weird and wonderful uniforms in the past.

“We are a small store compared to some, but the amount of customers that come in is lovely and being as Island you do see the same people and that’s what I will miss.”

Derek, now 65, first started as a groundsman for Kent County Council at the Central School, Sheerness, when he was 16, before moving to Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne.

He added: “I’m going to miss being at work and the camaraderie of working with other people.”