VETERAN television presenter Esther Rantzen spent an afternoon chatting with residents at Verulam House nursing home in St Albans last week.

The ChildLine founder and That’s Life presenter gave a talk to residents and their relatives about her services to broadcasting and children, for which she has received an OBE and CBE respectively.

Peter Jackson, chairman of Verulam House on Verulam Road, said Esther spoke about her new role as Chair of SilverLine, a service for the elderly.

He added: “Her talk was humorous and extremely interesting for our residents and in the afternoon she visited many residents in their rooms for an informal chat.”

Resident Joyce Wells said: “I was so impressed by her caring for both the young and the elderly.

“We very much enjoyed her talk; we only wish it could have been for longer. She also made time to look around the home and talked with the residents.”

Resident Violet Winter said the day was memorable and fellow resident Iris Hill added: “She is a marvellous person and very entertaining.”