Ravensbourne Valley Residents and Shortlands Residents Association are supporting a target of raising £500 to fund a retirement gift for the wonderful Dee Janes who is leaving her job at the Shortlands Railway Station and the area in early March.

Denise Janes, or ‘Dee’, has worked in the ticket-office at Shortlands Station for 16 years and retires this year. During this time she has raised the remarkable sum of over £550,000 to help local and national charities, Valley School, and local people having a tough time.

Initially, with permission from Southeastern Rail, Dee organised fundraising events in the Station carpark, ranging from barbecues, archery and bouncy castles to dog shows. More recently she has mounted striking displays inside the ticket-hall at Halloween and Christmas to raise funds, both making and paying for all the props and large puppet figures herself.

Charities she has helped through her fundraising include:-

Alzheimer and Dementia charities: Demelza Children’s Hospice in Kent; CASPA; NSPCC; Bromley MIND; Help for Heroes; Guide Dogs for the Blind; Foal Farm and the Valley School, Shortlands.

Dee has also raised money for individuals in need, including:- an autistic boy with special needs (equipment costing £10,000); a local lady with major cancer; and, four students made homeless and destitute by an arson attack in Shortlands Village.

Several local businesses have been inspired to support Dee’s fundraising.

For two years Dee ran a Foodbank from the ticket office, using food donated by M&S.

Dee has Advanced First Aid training and has helped numerous ill or injured passengers, including using a defibrillator. She has also caught several criminals involved in robbing passengers or damaging cars.

In 2011 she was named National Customer Service Champion by the Institute of Customer Service. She has been awarded trophies by Southeastern Rail and honoured by the police and local bodies.

Thanks to Dee and her remarkable charity work, cheerfulness and practical kindness, the Station ticket-hall has become a true focus for our community, a byword for neighbourliness and generosity.

When Dee retires, she will be sorely missed.

Above: Dee (second left) receiving the Mayor's Award for outstanding voluntary service together with Beatrice (RVR) and Mike (SRA)

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