JEAN Crowshaw may have retired from her job in social services but she refused to give up the lunch club she created.

Every Monday without fail, the 63-year-old turns out at the Weston Centre, in Duffield, to cook or serving food for up to 18 pensioners.

She started the group in 1992 during her time as a day service worker for Amber Valley Borough Council.

But when she retired four years later, she was determined to stay involved with the club and decided to continue helping out as a volunteer.

Preparing, cooking and serving meals can take up more than five hours of Jean's time but she said her love for it has never died.

Now she has been nominated for a Derby Telegraph Community Champions award in recognition of her dedication to the group.

Jean, of Ashbourne Road, near Belper, said: "I've always enjoyed working with elderly people and I think they really appreciate coming to the centre.

"Being with them, to hear them laugh and listen to their problems can be very rewarding because you know they get so much out of it.

"For some of the group, this is their only outing during the whole week so it has become very important to them.

"It's lovely to be nominated for an award but that's not why I get involved."

Jean's job at the Tamworth Street Centre involves co-ordinating up to six volunteers and cooking around once a month.

She arrives at the centre at about 9.30am each Monday, with lunch served anytime between 12pm and 12.30pm.

The club members take part in activities after lunch, with speakers and entertainment sometimes provided, and pay £3 to attend each week.

Jean, who lives with husband Alan, 59, said the biggest problem faced by the group, which has a waiting list, was its lack of volunteers.

She said: "The club is really important to the people who attend it.

"If nothing else, I hope that my nomination can attract more people to come and help us."

Jean was nominated by friend Ann McDonagh, 67, of Ford Lane, Allestree.

She said: "Jean works hard for such a worthwhile cause and really makes a difference to people's lives. It's all down to her initiative and she deserves some recognition for that."

The Derby Telegraph has teamed up in the Community Champions awards with BBC Radio Derby, Derbyshire Building Society, Derby City Council and Derby County Football Club.

On Sunday, May 16, the 14 winners will be invited to a ceremony at Pride Park Stadium.

Nomination forms can be found at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/champions or www.bbc.co.uk/derby.

They are also in some copies of the Derby Telegraph or can be collected from BBC Radio Derby, in St Helen's Street, or Derbyshire Building Society.

They should be sent to Caroline Jones, Community Champions, Derby Telegraph, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2BH by Friday, April 2.