A WOMAN who dedicated her career to helping people with speech and communications problems has retired.

Jennifer Fletcher has spent 34 years -- 26 of those in Bolton -- working firstly as a speech and language therapist, and latterly as a health manager.

Her colleagues gathered to give her a retirement send-off at the Friends Meeting House in Silverwell Street, Bolton.

Jennifer came to work for Bolton Primary Care Trust in 1977 as a speech and language therapist, and ended her career as manager of the Speech and Language Therapy Service, leading a team of more than 50 people.

Jennifer is pictured above (centre) with her retirement gifts and colleagues, from left: Ashley Mason, Janet Priest, Ellen-Ruth Arnold and Lesley Easterman.