Four of them with a combined total of more than 90 years were acknowledged this week by being named life governors at South West Healthcare’s annual general meeting.

The oldest is 92-year-old Mona Swinton who is the only remaining original member of the on-site National Diabetes Services Scheme.

She has been visiting the hospital about six hours a  month for 20 years to help clients manage their diabetes and is regarded as a key player in helping delay admission to hospital.

Ms Swinton  has no immediate plans to slow down.

Asked about her secret to a healthy old age, she replied: “Keep working and a good dish of luck”. In her “spare” time she is also a volunteer presenter on community radio 3WAY-FM having been with the station since it started in 1984 and a member of the field naturalists club, Trust For Nature and Probus club.

Carolyn Taylor has been pushing the hospital’s courtesy trolley for 23 years and has never missed her rostered duty of three hours a week.

She was described as one of the hospital’s greatest ambassadors.

“I love the work and want to stay on to become the hospital’s longest-ever serving volunteer,” she said. “It’s great working with the patients and staff and I get to go over the whole hospital.”

Gwen Grayson retired at Christmas after 24 years providing secretarial support for the ostomy supply scheme.

She also mentored new volunteers and said she enjoyed helping out.

The scheme is headed by Ray Hoy who, like Gwen, has also been volunteering with the service since 1989.

Mr Hoy manages six other helpers in the department and has been president of the local branch of the ostomy association. Through that association he has been able to make annual donations to the hospital.

“Each of these is a dedicated volunteer who has given an outstanding contribution over a prolonged period of time,” South West Healthcare chief executive John Krygger said.