Happy retirement to 'amazing' Asda Hereford community champion June
A very happy retirement to our fabulous community champion June Thurston who's worked at our Hereford store since it opened 15 years ago.
June has been a familiar face in the local community, working with schools, charities and good causes in the local area including The Kindle Centre – just last month she helped the centre secure a grant from the Asda Foundation to host an afternoon tea for older people:
Here she is helping Hinton Community Centre with £750 worth of groceries for the local community bought with an Asda Foundation grant:
June is also a passionate supporter of our Tickled Pink breast cancer charity campaign and of Hereford and Leominster food banks.
Sixty-five-year-old June, who has lived in Hereford almost all her life, says she has thoroughly enjoyed her time supporting the local community.
She said: "I've loved the diversity part of being a community champion and being able to make a difference in my community. I live only five minutes from my store so knowing I'm helping where I live really makes a big difference. Even the donation of a raffle prize can mean so much to a small group."
One of the highlights of her time as community champion was attending the Queen's garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2019 with her daughter Samantha, pictured above. June had been nominated to go by Hereford City councillor Chris Chappell for her tireless work in the community. June said: "It was an amazing day and one that I'll never forget."
Here's June helping celebrate the NHS's 70th anniversary.
June, who has three children, 11 grandchildren and two great, grand-daughters, now plans to spend more time with her family... and her garden.
She said: "I'll be kept busy. I'm a massive gardener. I love spending time in my garden growing fruit and veg and I'm a keen reader too."
June, who's married to Graham, said: "I'm really going to miss my colleagues. They are not just colleagues, but friends. They are family. I'll miss the community groups that I regularly go out to as well."
The store's fresh manager Sarah Young, who has known June for many years, said: "June is an amazing woman. She will do what ever she can to help people. She will be missed like mad by everyone here."