Having started as an accounts clerk, Joan Williams is celebrating 40 years working with the Little Venice Group.

To honour her achievement, a special lunch was held on Monday to celebrate the milestone, organised by her colleagues and attended by the group’s directors, Emilio Barbieri, Gioacchino “Jacky” Di Meglio, Teresa Chatfield and Stefania Di Meglio.

Ms Williams started as an accounts clerk for Little Venice, La Trattoria, Harbourfront and The Club, but now heads the revenue management and internal checks for a far larger group than when she started.

Ms Williams began when the Little Venice Group, or MEF, office was located in the International building, on Bermudiana Road, with a small staff and moved to their Reid Street location next to Marks and Spencers in 1989 as the group expanded.

A spokesman said: “While Emilio, Jacky and Teresa have a combined 140 years in the group, they are happy to see another longstanding employee join the very small number who have passed the 40-year mark.

“Joan, over and above being an extremely loyal, hard-working and dedicated employee, has been part of the MEF group through thick and thin. We have been lucky to have Joan in the office and as a part of the MEF family.”