ONE of East Suffolk's top occupational therapists has retired after dedicating more than 20 years of her life to the health service.Jean Peats, 59 , has been working for the health service for 23 years and, since 1986, has worked at the Bartlett Hospital in Felixstowe.

ONE of East Suffolk's top occupational therapists has retired after dedicating more than 20 years of her life to the health service.

Jean Peats, 59 , has been working for the health service for 23 years and, since 1986, has worked at the Bartlett Hospital in Felixstowe.

About 60 colleagues from the health and social services gathered at the Bartlett to wish her farewell at a celebratory lunch.

Mrs Peats said: "I've seen a lot of changes in my time here and I will miss everyone greatly. This job is very much about working as a team and my team have been wonderful."

Mrs Peats said that the biggest highlight of her career was saving the Bartlett from closure back in 1998. She said: "Since that happened the hospital has been 95 per cent occupied most of the time and I think we have been able to make quite a lot of difference to quite a lot of patients."

At the lunch she was presented with a special scrapbook and flowers from her colleagues. Ann Clarke , manager of the Felixstowe hospitals, read a special poem written by Mrs Peats' assistant Sandy Reeve.

Mrs Reeve said: "She's a wonderful person, very laid back – nothing phases her. I've learnt a lot from her."

Another of her colleagues, Julie Ruffles, assistant occupational therapist, said: "It's very sad. I feel as if we are losing a real friend. She was always there to talk to about everything. It didn't matter what it was, she would be there to listen and made people feel very at ease.

"She was wonderful with all the patients and she will be missed a lot."

Mrs Peats said she is excited about having time off to "do the things she wants to do" and is looking forward to being able to work on her house and garden.