Nineteen years and 10,000 hours later, and Cecile Stheeman is still volunteering at the Eastbourne Association of Voluntary Services. Last week her hard work was recognised when she won our weekly local heroes award.
Struggling to know what to do when her husband died, Cecile Stheeman took herself to the Eastbourne Association of Voluntary Services.
She had driven past the centre several times from her home in Blackwater Road on the way to the doctor with her husband.
After a 20-minute interview, she was offered a job at the centre itself. Ms Stheeman said: “I thought they would give me something to do, like pushing a wheelchair or something. I had absolutely no idea what they wanted.
“When my interviewer, Jackie Saich, asked if I wanted to work with them I was completely gobsmacked.” Ms Stheeman celebrated her 80th birthday on June 8, and is well known at the centre for her “friendly face” and “warm greeting” on the reception desk at the centre – now the rebranded 3VA.
Colleague Matthew French said: “We have worked out that Cecile has volunteered approximately 10,000 hours of her time in supporting 3VA on a completely voluntary basis.
“Cecile is one of our team of volunteers who offer a friendly face and warm greeting to visitors at our reception, help set up and run our events in support of other voluntary and community groups and is generally a joy to have around the office.
“She always wears a great smile and is well known by a great many of the hundreds of community groups from across Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden that use our support services for her genuine greetings in person and over the phone.
Ms Stheeman described staff and volunteers at the centre as a “great bunch of people” who put on an “absolute slap-up party” for her birthday. She added: “It was really terrific; they pulled out all the stops and were very generous.”
We want to know which charity deserves recognition along with the most deserving business in the community, event, school, local hero and many more.
There are a number of ways you can have your say. You can simply fill out the online entry form.
You can also send your suggestion by email to ben.james@theargus.co.uk.
Please include your name, address and contact number along with your nominee’s name, address, category and reason for nomination.
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