An estate agent who is retiring after more than 20 years has thanked her clients for making her career so enjoyable.

Maggie Bolton, from Minster, said she became an estate agent almost by accident.

She was working in sales in 1990 when someone was so impressed with her pitch, they asked her if she would consider estate agent work, and she started as a negotiator at Megadale in Sheerness later that year.

In 1994, she joined Haart, then known as the Woolwich and later Spicer McColl before it took on its current identity, and has been there ever since.

She was promoted to valuer and eventually made assistant branch manager.

The 63-year-old was thrown a surprise party at The Playa pub in Minster on Saturday, March 29, her last day at work, and more than 50 family, friends and colleagues attended.

Estate agency is something of a family trend, as Mrs Bolton’s sister, Tracey Palmer, daughter, Eva, and niece, Abbie Crockford, have all worked for Haart.

The grandmother of three said she loved the job as soon as she started.

“It’s quite a privilege to help people buy and sell houses,” she said.

“It’s nice to be part of it, and I have always got a buzz from seeing people be able to do what they want to do.”

Mrs Bolton said she always enjoyed going to work.

“I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever had one boring day,” she added. You see all walks of life and all sorts of people.

“I would like to say a thank you to everybody over the years – the clients have given me the opportunity to help them in their quest and who made my job so nice. Without them I wouldn’t have had the career I have.

“I will miss the people I work with most – they have been tremendous.”

She plans to spend her retirement completing a doll’s house she has had for many years and practising watercolour painting.