Wendy Craig steps down as president of Elizabeth House

A BAFTA-winning actress will no longer play the part of president at Elizabeth House after more than 25 years in the role.

Wendy Craig helped form the team which pushed for the opening of the day centre for the over 60s in 1980, before being handed the role of president a few years later.

The 80-year-old officially stepped down at an annual general meeting in June, when she was presented with a large bouquet of flowers and a watercolour painting of her Cookham Dean home.

Wendy had previously built a career in TV, with roles in The Royal, Butterflies and Not in Front of the Children, for which she was awarded a BAFTA in 1969.

Speaking of her time as president at the centre in Station Hill, Wendy said: "I enjoyed it very much.

"It's a really great bunch of people, lovely company and really friendly. It's not at all as you would imagine.

"It's the volunteers who make it special.

"They're all splendid people who go there and help, driving members to and from, and the trustees who plan it all and keep it all running. They are selfless.

"I shall miss it. I will still be popping in there."

Her position as president has quickly been replaced with another as she takes up the same role for the Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band, which she said she simply 'couldn't resist' due to her love of music.

Mike Copland, a former Elizabeth House trustee who now looks after the gallery, said she would be missed by everyone at the centre.

"She was anything but a token president," said Mike.

"It was clearly something that was very dear to her.

"She is such a lovely person, she made people at Elizabeth House feel it was really important to her. "It's a very special place and she contributed to that in a big way.

"A lot of people will have very fond thoughts of her time as president and she will be a tough act to follow."