A selfless elderly day care leader has won this year’s third Maltings Community Hero Award.

Sue Davey has worked tirelessly at the Hatfield Road Day Care centre, since it was founded in 1988, providing weekly entertainment and a friendly face for housebound elderly people.

Every Friday 14 visitors come to the Hatfield Road Methodist Church for tea and coffee, to see speakers, play games, do quizzes, have a sing-along, celebrate birthdays and enjoy a hot lunch provided by SS Alban and Stephen Catholic Junior School.

At the end of every session, the patrons are given a bunch of flowers to take home.

Talks have been given by a variety of people - police officers and fire fighters, and charity spokespeople from organisations like Pets as Therapy.

Sue, who was born in St Albans and is the co-ordinator at the centre, said: “I am pleased for the group, I do it for the group as much as anything.

“I am surprised and a little bit excited, very thankful to all those who helped me and put me forward, because you just get on and do things in life.”

The Day Care centre is not a church organisation or charity, but is run in conjunction with Fleetville Community Centre and Hatfield Road’s Methodist and St Paul’s churches, and relies on grants and an annual coffee morning to survive.

Sue added: “I think seeing the enjoyment that everybody gets really makes it worthwhile, especially the people who don’t get out much.

“I just think people are wonderful, I really like working with elderly people especially because they have a history and so much to tell you.”

The oldest person to attend the centre was 104 years old, but the average age of visitors is between 80 and 90. A fellow volunteer at the centre, Caroline Moore, nominated Sue: “I am absolutely proud, very much so.

“We would struggle without her here.”

Along with a certificate, Sue received £100 to spend in any of The Maltings shops and is entered into an finalists competition which will take place in September.

The next winner will be announced in July.