Southampton store – memories from late 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s
Many thanks to Avon Jenkins, our volunteer visitor for the Southampton area for sharing these wonderful photographs of the Southampton store from the late 1950’s, the 1960’s and the1970’s.
The first photo is Children’s Day which took place on Saturday 8th June 1957 held on the roof of the Southampton store. I’m not sure a rooftop children’s event would be allowed to take place today with risk assessment and health and safety regulations. The second photo features Mrs Doris Wilmer (far left) and Mrs Stella Adams (far right) who were both Personnel Managers in 1966. Stella Adams went on to become an Owen Owen Trust trustee. There’s also a photo of Doris Wilmer’s retirement presentation on 12th November 1976. This is the third photo and pictured centre is Mr John Norman making the presentation and far left Miss Liz Stewardson (now an Owen Owen Trust trustee) Also pictured are Mr Skinner, Miss Knowlton, Mr King and Mr Bevis.
The fourth photo featurs a staff training session in the Southampton store. You can see the old till pictured far right with the handle on the side. This meant that if there was ever a power cut and the electricity went off you were still able to use the till.
There are also some wonderful photos of the Southampton store taken at Christmas during the 1960’s when the store was still named Mayes. Avon recalls being taken to the store by her mother as a child to see it decorated for Christmas and thinking that the choir boys on the roof who were singing on a record were singing for real. The final photo shows the food department on the lower ground floor.
If anyone has any memories and photographs from their time working at the Southampton store we’d love to hear from you.
