Christmas And Department Stores

[mike-s 13]

Merry Christmas all. This time of year always reminds me of the old department stores, I worked at Walsh's in the seventies and Christmas was always a great time. The stores were bustling with shoppers, the staff dressed up, mince pies on the departments. Although there was competition between the stores it was always a friendly rivalry, It's a knockout competition at the city hall between ourselves, Coles, Cockaynes and Roberts, (which we won!) and after work pile into the Mulberry tavern or across to the Claymore or perhaps Brown Bear. Sadly the internet has spelled the end for most stores, and the friendships which were made in them.

[Heartshome 19]

Hi mike, yes I agree with you!! I worked at Atkinson's, late 60s early 70s. 

One Christmas I was cashier on the Grotto, it was fab!! Think the theme

was WINTER WOODLAND, it had animated Animals, beautiful woodland

background in snow, and a running water fall. 'FATHER CHRISTMAS' not

Santa,  was in his grotto sat in a big gold chair, it was wonderful!!

 

The staff Christmas Party was always of 'good humour', and at one of

them they had a talent contest which I won, singing 'Thoroughly

Modern Milly' much to my amazement!!  

 

I met my life-long BEST FRIEND there, and my HUDBAND. Everyone

seemed to look out for each other and help out if they could. Our boss

Mr PETER was brilliant! We respected him very much, and he treated

us well, even helped with serving us at the Party, and we all got a gift.  

[Jim Hardie 525]

29 minutes ago, Heartshome said:

Hi mike, yes I agree with you!! I worked at Atkinson's, late 60s early 70s. 

One Christmas I was cashier on the Grotto, it was fab!! Think the theme

was WINTER WOODLAND, it had animated Animals, beautiful woodland

background in snow, and a running water fall. 'FATHER CHRISTMAS' not

Santa,  was in his grotto sat in a big gold chair, it was wonderful!!

 

The staff Christmas Party was always of 'good humour', and at one of

them they had a talent contest which I won, singing 'Thoroughly

Modern Milly' much to my amazement!!  

 

I met my life-long BEST FRIEND there, and my HUDBAND. Everyone

seemed to look out for each other and help out if they could. Our boss

Mr PETER was brilliant! We respected him very much, and he treated

us well, even helped with serving us at the Party, and we all got a gift.  

Did your hudband look like Paul Newman?

[mike-s 13]

3 hours ago, Heartshome said:

Hi mike, yes I agree with you!! I worked at Atkinson's, late 60s early 70s. 

One Christmas I was cashier on the Grotto, it was fab!! Think the theme

was WINTER WOODLAND, it had animated Animals, beautiful woodland

background in snow, and a running water fall. 'FATHER CHRISTMAS' not

Santa,  was in his grotto sat in a big gold chair, it was wonderful!!

 

The staff Christmas Party was always of 'good humour', and at one of

them they had a talent contest which I won, singing 'Thoroughly

Modern Milly' much to my amazement!!  

 

I met my life-long BEST FRIEND there, and my HUDBAND. Everyone

seemed to look out for each other and help out if they could. Our boss

Mr PETER was brilliant! We respected him very much, and he treated

us well, even helped with serving us at the Party, and we all got a gift.  

Oh yes, the Christmas parties, er 'good humour'.......more like 'wink wink', especially on the back staircase 🤣🤣. They were wonderful days, Walsh's was probably the most 'Grace bros' of them all, strict but fair. I worked on the TV dept, can't believe the amount of money we used to take looking back. TV's are the same price now as they were then, so the majority were on the 'never never'. There was a period when we were selling over thirty a day, big money in those days. The shop really used to go to town at Christmas, I loved it. I left Sheffield years ago, believe most of the stores are sadly gone now.

[Heartshome 19]

5 hours ago, Jim Hardie said:

Did your hudband look like Paul Newman?

Hi Jim. No! he was 6ft 1 tall, shoulder length dark brown wavy hair, slim and handsome.

Worked on DIY dept.

[Jim Hardie 525]

40 minutes ago, Heartshome said:

Hi Jim. No! he was 6ft 1 tall, shoulder length dark brown wavy hair, slim and handsome.

Worked on DIY dept.

You didn’t do so bad then.

[Heartshome 19]

54 minutes ago, Jim Hardie said:

You didn’t do so bad then.

No, indeed I didn't!  My best friend that I met there, 'STILL IS'! and my husband and I have just

celebrated our 44th Wedding Anniversary, thanks to Atkinson's 💖

[beezerboy 12]

On 26/12/2021 at 10:24, Heartshome said:

Hi mike, yes I agree with you!! I worked at Atkinson's, late 60s early 70s. 

One Christmas I was cashier on the Grotto, it was fab!! Think the theme

was WINTER WOODLAND, it had animated Animals, beautiful woodland

background in snow, and a running water fall. 'FATHER CHRISTMAS' not

Santa,  was in his grotto sat in a big gold chair, it was wonderful!!

 

 

My wife Eileen started here after leaving school in August 1960, she remembers Mr Peters and she also worked in the Grotto and met a girl called Paula.

[St Petre 85]

3 hours ago, beezerboy said:

My wife Eileen started here after leaving school in August 1960, she remembers Mr Peters and she also worked in the Grotto and met a girl called Paula.

'and met a girl called Paula'. was there some dark, sinister or even happy end to that ?

Edited December 27, 2021 by St Petre
add

[beezerboy 12]

17 hours ago, St Petre said:

'and met a girl called Paula'. was there some dark, sinister or even happy end to that ?

No, she  couldn't recall her surname , sort of hoped she might see this site and remember her. Besides, not long after she started there she  got me and still has.

Edited December 28, 2021 by beezerboy

[Heartshome 19]

22 hours ago, beezerboy said:

No, she  couldn't recall her surname , sort of hoped she might see this site and remember her. Besides, not long after she started there she  got me and still has.

Seems beezerboy, that Atkinson's was a good place to find our life partners!

[beezerboy 12]

Worked out ok for us ,       Married for 54  years but have been together 61. The last  40 in Canada.

 

Eileen finally remembered the name, Pauline Wheelhouse.