THE Winchester branch of a national charity celebrated 25 years of service to the local community.

Some 60 people tucked into lunch to mark the branch of Parkinson’s UK reaching a major milestone.

Actress Jane Asher, president of Parkinson’s UK, supplied the icing and plaque for the beautiful cake which was made by the daughter of a local sufferer.

Everyone thanked Myra Clare, chairman for the past 16 years, who was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2012, and the very first chairman, Syliva Stops.

Both women have devoted a large part of their lives to fundraising for research into treatments and a possible cure for the devastating disease.

Just a few months ago, Miss Stops did her first charity skydive at the age of 89 from 14,000 ft over Salisbury Plain.

The retired physiotherapist raised £6,000 from the tandem jump.