A CLERK who dedicated 29 years of her life to the village of Oakley was honoured with a surprise party.

Sally Warner retired from the position of clerk at Oakley Parish Council at the end of March – a role she had held since 1984.

Last Friday, the 61-year-old thought she was going to have a meal in Winchester with her husband Ian, but instead he drove her to St Leonard’s Centre, in Rectory Road.

Waiting there were around 20 past and present members of the parish council who wished her a happy retirement.

She told The Gazette: “I had absolutely no idea whatsoever, so they really kept it a secret. It was astonishing – a really lovely surprise.”

Mrs Warner received a £100 cheque and £100 of garden vouchers from the parish council, as well as a pot plant.

Among the guests were North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young, Anna McNair Scott, Candovers councillor on Hampshire County Council, and local Basingstoke and Deane Borough councillors Rob Golding and Diane Taylor.

George Elkin, 66, of Oakley Lane, was the parish council chairman who appointed Mrs Warner.

He said: “We had a lot of good candidates but she stood out a mile from anybody else. She had worked before at Hampshire County Council, so would know who to phone, and had been a clerk at Alresford Parish Council.

“When I was chairman, I was the first one who was not retired. She was a wonderful support to me.”

Current parish councillor Roz Blackman said: “She kept us in order and got us doing what we needed to do. She will be a hard act to follow.”

Mrs Warner said she plans to spend her retirement gardening and seeing more of her two grandchildren, who live in Bristol.