Shirley's friendly manner makes her a 'ray of sunshine' to everyone at Asda Royston

Colleagues at our Royston store say Shirley Elliott is a "ray of sunshine" for her cheery smile, friendly manner and community spirit.

Sixty-four-year-old Shirley also works as a dinner lady at Holy Trinity Primary School in the village, where the kids call her Shirley Whirly, and is an active member of the local Salvation Army.

She said: "As my grandmother used to say, I'm better known than the bell-ringer!"

Shirley, who's been married to James for 45 years, has two grown-up daughters and four grandchildren. She's lived in Royston since 1977 and started work as a cleaning colleague at our Royston store just under two years ago. Before that she was at the nearby Asda Barnsley for 10 years.

She said: "I just live straight across the road from the Royston store so it's very handy. It's a lovely community store and it's like one big family here. Everyone is lovely, customers and colleagues.

"I love working here and I'm always smiling. You've got to smile haven't you' it doesn't cost anything.

"I like the people and the environment. I love to have a chat with the regulars. There are some who go in there who are older than me and I'll call them 'young 'uns'. I'm smiling and they are smiling; it's community."

Shirley has been a regular helper at Royston Salvation Army for the past seven years and now helps with its food bank and putting together food parcels, including donations from Asda.

She said: "We have regular coffee mornings on Tuesdays and Fridays and in summer we go outside with the coffees. It's all free, and there's free food for people to take. It has opened my eyes working at the food bank but I really, really enjoy it. It's my thing.

Next year I'm hoping to give my Christmas Day up and help out. I'm all about community and so is Asda."

Store manager Sarah Waplington, who nominated Shirley for an Asda service superstar award, said: "Due to her work in the community she is well known by everyone and is an absolute ray of sunshine first thing in a morning for both colleagues and customers alike.

"She always has a cheery smile, is hard working, and always has such a positive attitude to her work and life in general. What a fabulous lady!

"We are so very proud of you Shirley, and thank you for everything that you do for us."