But at the age of 103, June Spencer is finally retiring from the BBC Radio 4 soap. Spencer appeared in the first episode of the show in 1951. Her final performance was broadcast on Sunday 31 July. Spencer said: “In 1950 I helped plant an acorn. It took root and in January 1951 it was planted and named Sagittarius. “Over the years it thrived and became a great big tree with many branches. But now that old branch, known as Peggy, has become weak and unsafe, so I decided it was time for her to ‘get out’ and so I duly cut her down.” In Monday’s episode, Peggy’s son Tony and Tony’s wife Pat will reflect on Peggy’s recent memories and thoughts on family life, with both agreeing that she is an extraordinary woman. When Sagittarius started, Peggy, now a great-grandmother, was a young woman with two little girls. She has appeared in many important stories, including her husband Jack Woolley succumbing to Alzheimer’s. It was especially personal for Spencer, as her husband, Roger, also had the condition until his death. The story began a year after his death. Jeremy Howe, the editor of The Archers, said: “I think working with June Spencer has been one of the greatest privileges of my many decades in drama. “Her Peggy is one of the show’s great creations – utterly charming, utterly ruthless, sharp as a knife and witty in spades. To think that June has commanded the airwaves in a 70-plus year career with the Archers is a leap of faith. “Rarely have I worked with such an inventive, focused and technically brilliant actor or such a wonderful person. Myself and the team and cast of Archers wish June a well-deserved and long retirement – ​​and I know that if she feels the show is unsatisfactory, June will let us know. Well done to the legend that is June Spencer.” The Duchess of Cornwall, a long-time listener of the radio soap, made a cameo appearance as herself in the show’s 60th anniversary episode. He hailed Peggy as “a real national treasure”. In 1991, Spencer was made an OBE and in June 2010 she received the freedom of the City of London. She was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Sound Awards in 2014 and was made a CBE in the 2017 birthday for services to drama and charity.