A WOMAN has received an award after 47 years of working for the Diocese of Worcester.

Alison Vincent, aged 66, was awarded with the Cross of St. Wulfstan, which pays tribute to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the life of the church in the Diocese of Worcester.

The award was presented by The Bishop of Worcester, the Right Reverend Dr John Inge.

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Mrs Vincent, from Malvern, said: “I was completely shocked and very honoured when Bishop John announced that I would be this year’s recipient of the Wulfstan Cross.

“I’ve had such a happy time working at the Diocese of Worcester, with lovely colleagues and some great friendships. I feel very blessed to have found a job which I enjoyed enough to stay so long.”

Mrs Vincent joined the Diocesan office as an office junior in July 1972. It was only her second ever job and, when she retired just before Christmas, she had spent over two-thirds of her life working for the Diocese of Worcester.

She worked her way up to be office manager and during her time in the Diocese, she worked with four different Bishops of Worcester and five different Bishops of Dudley.

Technology has also changed completely since she started – initially she worked with a typewriter and Gestetner copier.

Bishop John said: “Alison’s record of service to the Diocese of Worcester is an outstanding one. I am delighted to give her this award, which recognises the great debt of gratitude we owe her.”

Diocesan secretary, John Preston, said: “It is incredible that Alison’s commitment and dedication to the Diocese stretches back over nearly 50 years.

“Throughout that time, she has served parishes in a wide variety of ways, particularly enabling millions of pounds of Gift Aid to be claimed for them, and I’m so pleased that she has received this award in honour of her work.”

St. Wulfstan, who lived from 1008 to 1095, served as the Bishop of Worcester under the last two Saxon kings and the first two Norman kings.