Round of a-paws for PDSA volunteer after 25 years at Sudbury shop
17 May 2024
A ‘paw-some’ pensioner from Sudbury has dedicated a quarter of a century to helping pets in need as she marks 25 years of volunteering for leading vet charity PDSA.
Alex Mitchell (88) has volunteered at the charity shop on North Street since it first opened in May 1999.
“I volunteer at PDSA because I like the charity and what it stands for,” she explains. “As a cat owner myself, I like to do what I can for pets in need. Not only that though, Sudbury is a lovely shop, with a friendly team and customers.
“I’ve worked all my life and I find volunteering has helped keep my brain going since retiring.
“Before moving to Sudbury, I used to live in London where I worked for renowned jewellers Cameo Corner, I've served many high-profile customers such as Elizabeth Taylor and Mick Jagger!
“At PDSA, I work on the tills and love chatting to customers here too - although we haven’t had Mick Jagger in yet! I’ve been volunteering here since the shop first opened in May 1999 and love it!”
Alex has her own feline friend, Ptolemy, who she named after a Pharaoh. Knowing her love of cats, the team got her a cat ornament and a voucher for a local cat cafe alongside some flowers as part of her 25 year celebratory gift.
Leanne McGeachin, Shop Manager at Sudbury PDSA, said: “Alex is an absolute star, she has a beaming smile and such a passion for life. We are so lucky to have her as part of the Sudbury team.
“Her 25 years as a volunteer at our Sudbury shop is a truly amazing achievement. Our volunteers mean the world to us, and Alex’s enormous contribution to the smooth running of our Sudbury shop has helped its continued success.
“I started as Sudbury Shop Manager in December 2023 and Alex and the team have made me feel very welcome. On behalf of everybody at PDSA, I’d like to say a huge thank you for her wonderful commitment.”
PDSA has more than 2,800 dedicated volunteers across the UK, but Alex is one of just 24 volunteers with more than 25 years’ service at the charity.
Not one to stand still, alongside volunteering, Alex has always tried to keep fit through dancing. In her younger days she was a flamenco dancer, and met her husband this way as he was a flamenco guitarist. Today, she still attends a circle dancing group and until recently a Russian, Polish and Hungarian folk dance group.
One of more than 120 PDSA shops in the UK, the Sudbury team plays a pivotal role in helping to fund the charity’s 49 Pet Hospitals, which provide a lifeline to local pet owners who would otherwise struggle to afford veterinary treatment if their pet unexpectedly becomes ill or gets injured.
Alex added: “To anyone thinking about volunteering at their local PDSA charity shop, I’d say do it, it’s a good cause and a friendly environment.”
To find out about volunteering opportunities at the Sudbury PDSA store, please contact Leanne on McGeachin.Leanne@pdsa.org.uk or call the shop on 01787 883143.
To find out more visit pdsa.org.uk/volunteering
