RETIREMENT not before 110

11.28.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 22nd May 2006

Newbury's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, David Rendel, told longstanding supporter, Mrs Peggy Anderson, that she would not be allowed to retire from her work for him and the Newbury Liberal Democrats until she was at least 110. The occasion was a lunch at the Chequers Hotel last Friday to celebrate her recent 80th birthday.

"You are simply too valuable to us to retire for many years yet," said Mr Rendel.

Mrs Anderson is well-known to many residents of West Berkshire as the warm-hearted and always sympathetic receptionist at Mr Rendel's surgeries throughout his 12 years as MP for Newbury.

"People who came to my surgery worried and perhaps a little nervous about approaching their MP were always delighted by the reception they received from Peggy", said Mr Rendel. "By the time Peggy had had a chat to them, even before they came into my office, they always felt much better and confident that everything possible would be done to help them. Peggy is one of those people who knows how to put everyone at their ease. She is a real favourite with all the local Liberal Democrats and one of our hardest working supporters."