Jane hangs up her brush after 36 years of keeping Windsor clean and tidy

Dedicated Royal Borough road sweeper Jane Rose has parked her barrow and hung up her brush for the last time after ensuring the streets of Windsor were kept clean and tidy for the past 36 years.

Jane started work with the council in 1972 when it was the Borough of New Windsor before the formation of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 1974. She was transferred to the private sector when the council contracted out its cleansing services in 1995 and – until her retirement last week – was employed by Veolia.

Nigel Davis, senior streetcare officer, said: "I have known and worked with Jane for many years. She is very reliable and hardworking and will be difficult to replace. Always polite and helpful, Jane was highly respected and thought of by her colleagues and local residents. She has certainly earned her retirement, and we wish her all the best."

Jane, who lives in Egham, is looking forward to having more leisure time, but says she will miss the local residents and her colleagues now she is not working.

Two presentations were held to mark Jane's retirement. The first was from her work colleagues in Windsor who presented her with shopping tokens and flowers, followed by a second presentation ceremony in London where she received an engraved decanter and glasses and flowers from Veolia's company president.