A YEAR to remember

For these three women, 2024 has been life-changing – for the best

- GILIAN HARVEY

‘It might seem modest, but it's been transformational’

Jane Davison, 62, is a nursery assistant and lives in Hertfordshire with her daughter Joey, 29.

Being a cleaner isn't anyone's dream job, but in the early 1990s I chose the role at my local college because it fitted around my caring responsibilities. For over 30 years, I'd start my day at 5am and finish at 8am - leaving the day free to be with my four children, Robert, now 42, Neil, 40, Giovanni, 37 and Joey, 29.

When they'd grown, I found myself looking after my elderly father Henry and latterly my husband John, who suffered from a stroke in 2020. Now, I'm a carer for Joey, who has anxiety and anorexia.

As I got older, cleaning became more physically difficult, and the early starts felt tough, but I never minded my job until in early 2024, a new member of staff started to make life difficult. After a particularly testing encounter I thought, 'I don't want to do this any more.'

The problem? In my early 60s, having worked as a cleaner for three decades, I doubted anyone would want me, almost giving up before I'd even started. But a couple of weeks later, in May 2024, Joey sat me down in the kitchen. 'Mum,' she said. 'I applied for a job on your behalf, and you've got an interview.'

It was a job at a local nursery, working four hours a day, which was perfect. I did worry whether I was up to such a change at the age of 62, but with Joey's encouragement, I thought 'Let's give it a go'. To my delight, the interview went well and I started in June.

Working at the nursery is a joy - supervising or joining in with play, reading books with the children. The staff are lovely - there's always someone to chat and laugh with. Even better, the hours are 11am-3pm, so I'm still in bed at 5am these days!