AFTER 30 years service for Bethany Residential Home Mary Bailey has retired this month at the age of 84. The hard-working great-grandmother started working as a care assistant for Bethany Home when it opened in 1984. She then went on to become laundry assistant, and was considered an integral part of the home. Manager of Bethany home Robert Phelps said: "Mary is still quicker then anybody else on the job. "She used to work five days a week and only in the past couple of years has she dropped down to three; we had to convince her to cut her hours. "By choice she would start at 5am and work till 3pm, Mondays to Wednesdays. "She's actually older then some of our residents." A surprise party was held with the residents of the home and Mary's family, where she was presented with a watch and flowers to congratulate her and wish her good luck in her retirement.