A RETAIL queen has swapped the shop for a career in care and is now up for a top award.

After nearly 30 years in retail, Julie Ward had it all, a £47,000 salary and company car, but she gave it up to look after others.

As a carer, the 54-year-old says that she couldn’t be happier.

This has led to her nomination in the exceptional newcomer category in the Wales Care Awards, run by Care Forum Wales.

The presentation night will be held in Cardiff on October 26.

When Cherry Tree Care Home, Caldicot, considered their nomination, 13 staff and two residents sent letters of support.

Ms Ward, originally from Manchester, went to work in a bakery after finishing school, before taking a job atWHSmith.

She said: “No matter what I do though I want to excel, so I became a sales assistant in stationery then became supervisor and assistant manager and then I was put in charge of my own store in St Helens.”

She moved around the country, before she came to Monmouthshire.

She said: “But I was not happy, I had lost the desire. The store was running itself and I felt like a cheat, getting paid for doing nothing.”

She took two months off to consider what to do before taking a job providing community care.

In June last year she started work at Cherry Tree care home, she said: “I’ve started a gentlemen’s club once a week. I love football and support Manchester United and so we have a sweep for the men and at the end of the year we will use the money to order in a Chinese or Indian meal to share with their wives and ladies.

“Some of the men don’t talk much and the football competition was a way of creating a bit of banter.”

She helps out with the activities and two days a week she does the cooking.

She added: “I thought after 28 years in retail I would miss it, but I have never looked back and it would never interest me to go back.”

Home manager Gillian Jones said: “When Julie is on duty you can feel the atmosphere lift. She brings a smile to everyone’s face.”