IS THIS the oldest volunteer in Flintshire?

Jim Bomber helps out at the Claire House Hospice shop in Mold and last week staff there threw him a surprise party to celebrate his 90th birthday.

The father of four has been volunteering at the shop since it re-opened in May 2009 and at the furniture outlet of the shop for five years before that.

The dedicated pensioner said: “I started volunteering because I wanted company after my wife passed away.

“I come in every day from Monday to Friday, 1pm until 5pm. I also come in for a few hours on a Saturday to lend a hand.

“Helping out here is a godsend – I appreciate being here very much.

“The girls here trust me to sit at the till and I enjoy working with the staff.”

Jim’s duties include serving customers and answering the phone.

Shop manager Jody Kendrick said: “We’re wondering if he’s the oldest charity worker in Flintshire.

“He’s a wonderful volunteer. We always need somebody to open the shop and if we need help he always comes in.”

Jim, who lives in Mold, added: “The party was a lovely surprise. They gave me big balloons with 90 on them and had a stall outside the shop with food on.”

Jim came to Flintshire when he was a teenager, working as a decorator for the Air Force. It was on moving to the region that he met his wife Peggy.

He said: “I was in digs in Sandycroft. My wife worked as a cashier at the Plaza cinema in Queensferry and I met her when I went to see a film. We were married in July 1941.”

Jim now has three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

- Is Jim the oldest charity worker in Flintshire? If you know anyone older than him who is still volunteering contact reporter Helen Davies on 01352 707758 or email helen.davies@nwn.co.uk