STAFF and residents at Williton's Croft House have said a fond farewell to manager Diane Allen.

Diane is leaving the Somerset Care-owned residential home to take up a new role as operations manager with the not-for-profit care company.

But the promotion has meant severing a link with Croft House which began when she started as a temporary care assistant in 1992.

The facility was then based in North Croft in the village and Diane - who returned as manager in 2007 - oversaw the move to a new £3.5 million purpose-built development in Bridge Street in 2011.

The 67-bed facility, which includes 31 dementia places, was given the royal seal of approval when it was opened by the Duke of Kent.

In between her service with Croft House, Diane's roles within the company have included deputy manager at Pulsford Lodge in Wiveliscombe and manager of Moorhaven in Taunton.

And as colleagues, residents and their families gathered to wish her well at a leaving party last Friday, she admitted that leaving would be difficult.

"I thought long and hard before accepting this new position as Croft House will always hold a special place in my heart," she said.

"It has been a pleasure to work alongside all the staff, residents and relatives to build Croft House to what it is today.

"Croft House plays a large part in the community of Williton and I am sure this will continue in the future."

One of the key developments within the new development has been the creation of a dementia garden and Diane said she wanted to thank everyone who had contributed to the fundraising for the initiative.

In particular, she acknowledged the efforts of Bert Pearson, whose wife is a resident at Croft House, and the family and friends of former care assistant Bethany Paige Adams, who died in a car crash, who have fundraised for a summerhouse in the garden in her memory.

And Diane also thanked everyone for the messages of support and good luck in her new job.

Photo: Steve Guscott