A ‘POPULAR and hardworking’ staff member has retired after 40 years’ service with family-run from a Halesowen opticians Scrivens.

Jashumati Lad, known affectionately as Mrs Lad, joined the glazing department at Scrivens Opticians and Hearing Care’s optical laboratory Mersona Ltd, in Coombs Road, in 1978, and for many years worked as a despatch clerk sending out spectacles to the company’s branches.

Mrs Lad, who will be 65 this month, said: “I will obviously miss the people I have worked with over the years. I’m looking forward to having more time in retirement to spend with my family and to travel more.”

The mother-of-two has three grandchildren and also has family in India whom she visits, while she also enjoys trips to the Far East.

Mark Georgevic, a director of Scrivens and grandson of the founder, Solomon Scriven, presented Mrs Lad with a set of Indian jewellery, including a necklace and earrings, to mark her long service and retirement.

He said: “Mrs Lad is a popular and hardworking employee who will be missed by her colleagues. I’d like to thank her for her dedicated service and to wish her well in her retirement.”