From left to right: Julie Laughton, Jean Carlton and Emma Bonnett
A “big-hearted” volunteer has been praised for going the extra mile for her customers and donating her time to help others
Jean Carlton, 76, from Lincoln has been volunteering at The Forum shop in Lincoln for 10 years.
Regular customer, Julie Laughton, has paid tribute to the charity’s kind-hearted volunteer who has become a firm friend.
Julie said: “I work as a Day Time Provider for Adults Supporting Adults and assist clients like Emma who have learning difficulties. Reading is something she has a real passion for and therefore visiting the bookshop is something she really enjoys.
“We are always met by friendly faces who warmly welcome us in and Jean, in particular, goes out of her way to make our visit that extra bit special. Nothing is ever too much trouble and she often puts books, CD’s and DVD’s aside for my clients that she knows they will enjoy.
“Jean is a wonderful woman who I am honoured to have met and who I think of as a real friend, she is a very special lady.”
Julie is a keen supporter of St Barnabas Hospice and each year she attends their annual Light Up a Life fundraiser in memory of her mum.
Julie said: “My Mum passed away four years ago and in her final days she was cared for at home by an amazing team of nurses from St Barnabas.
“They cared for Mum with such compassion and the support and kindness they offered me and my family was crucial at such a difficult time. They gave me the strength I needed to be there for my mum at the end.
“I’ll always remember one of the nurses telling me that one day I’d look back on that time and remember it as being a privilege to have spent those final moments with her.
“This is something that has stayed with me and I realise now that she was right. Although it was an incredibly sad time, to be able to spend those last days with her is something I will always cherish and hold dear.”
As a way of giving something back to the charity, Julie often donates her unwanted belongings in addition to being an avid shopper.
Julie said: “I have been so impressed by the choice of goods and level of service I receive when I come here that I have introduced many friends and family to the shop.
“St Barnabas is an amazing organisation who I am incredibly proud to support and Jean perfectly personifies the caring nature of everyone I have met at the organisation.
“She is truly a special lady with a big heart.”