Two friends have celebrated five decades working for Marks and Spencer in the same week.
June Blakeley and Pamela Till, both customer assistants at the high street retailer, are both celebrating 50 years at the store on Chapel Street in Southport. The pair both joined the store in 1972 and have played an important role ever since.
Each has worked in almost every department in the shop, ranging from womenswear and childrenswear to food and administration with the pair seeing massive changes in their combined century at the shop. Pam and June have both seen the transition from cheques to the first automated tills before moving on to online shopping.
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Pam's connection to the store runs in the family as well, with her daughter, Emily, also working as a visual manager at M&S. Both of them celebrated their anniversaries with a surprise party held by their colleagues to thank them for their hard work over the years as well as a goodbye to June, who has now retired after reaching the half-century milestone.
Pamela Till, a store admin customer assistant at M&S Southport, said: “I feel really privileged to have had my career here. M&S has always made me feel safe, supported and part of a family. If I look back to when I joined and where we are now, it’s incredible how far we’ve come.
"I have such fond memories of adding little moments of joy to our customers’ lives over the years. Seeing my daughter Emily grow up and join the store has been wonderful to watch too.”
June Blakeley, clothing and home customer assistant, added: “I had been brought up with M&S and I felt so lucky to be a part of it from the moment I started. When I first joined, one of my colleagues had her 25-year party in store and I remember thinking wow, I want that.
"So, I did 25 years, then 40 and I can’t believe I’ve now hit 50. I enjoyed every single minute of my time and my store colleagues will always be my extended family.”
Adam Whittaker, store manager at M&S Southport, said: “June and Pam have been such an integral part of M&S Southport over the past 50 years. Attentive and charming to both customers and colleagues, they really have been the heart of our M&S Southport family.
"We wish June all the best for her retirement and can’t wait to see her back in store as a customer.”
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