Wigan Album

That bag isn't rubbish, Cathy...I worked in Debenhams, (formerly Pendlebury's), in 1973-1976 and it was all plastic bags. Treasure it!

My Mum worked at Pendlebury's from late 1960 until about 1970. She was on 'millinery'. Her name was Marjorie Houghton.

Thankyou Irene and Helen for your comments.
I remember you as a schoolgirl Helen because I started off in the millinery department with your mum and the others, Mrs Nelson, Miss Wood and Pauline Greenall (nee Crook)!
They were all very kind to me and taught me how to use the scary vacuum tube which whistled the cash and bill to the office upstairs.
Your mum, Mrs Nelson and Pauline all had beautiful make-up and hair while dear Miss Wood gave herself two lovely red rosy cheeks with her rouge. She wore a shiny black velvet dress which she spruced-up with the cleaning fluid meant for the hats and nearly knocked us out with the fumes. I stayed there for a year before going to the cosmetics department and left in July 1965.
Which department did you work in Irene?
Some of the staff stayed there for years so we probably remember the same people. To name a few - Miss Carmody and Mr Cockram, Miss Kerruish, Miss Holland and Gwyneth and Gwen in the office, 'Mina Pendlebury the telephonist, Mrs Sixsmith, Mrs Gostelow and of course Mr George the manager.
We had 'targets' even in those days when we tried to beat the takings for that day the previous year.
Did you ever take the lift to the very top floor and go on the roof?!!!

I though your name was vaguely familiar Cathy. I worked there myself as a Saturday girl around 1964/5, mainly on stationary with Miss Magee. Lily Kerruish was our buyer, a lovely lady, stern, but always very approachable. My Mum was very friendly with Mildred Gostelow, and they stayed friends until Mildred died, about 10 years ago I think it was. She was also friendly with Margaret Robinson (children's wear) until Margaret died. I am still in touch with Margaret's daughter, Susan. We went to school together. Mum died just over 5 years ago, at the ripe old age of 89. I remember Gertie Wood very well too. She lived quite close to us in Billinge. She always had a secret stash of sweeties which she tried to consume without being seen (so that she didn't have to offer them round I think). I also remember seeing Pendlebury's the day after the fire. I was probably about 4 or 5 years old, but will never forget the sight.

I started on Glass and China and then went on to dress fabrics and then curtain fabrics. We had to call each other by our surnames on the shop floor, so my friends had to call me Miss Griffiths and then Mrs. Roberts when I got married in January 1974. I remember Miss Carmody and Miss Holland and a lady on hats who always had rouged cheeks. Sadly, a girl who started on the same day as me died recently at the young age of 53. I worked all the long hot summer of 1976 on the top floor with no windows and no air conditioning in those days and expecting my first baby, and the day I left the weather broke and it poured down!

This has stirred up some memories! I'll have to go over to 'I remember my first job' in 'STUFF' when I have time.

I have a pic somewhere of a staff charity walk around 1975. Will try to find it and post it. Do you remember taking the takings and the float up to the office every night, and the canteen up the back stairs? And yes Cathy, I did go up on the roof!

Hope you can find the picture Irene.
It was the canteen I was thinking of too. Having just arrived from Kent, and a bit too posh, I kept my mouth shut and listened. For instance "Yer slatin'" or "Is she turnin' ferr'im?".
I expect the kind ladies in the millinery department explained!

Looked everywhere for photo but can't find it. I promise to post it if it turns up.

I seem to remember that Pendlebury`s burned down in the early 1950`s. The shop moved from Standishgate to the site of the gas show rooms, it was rebuilt and moved back to it`s original place then was taken over by Debenhams.

Debenhams took over in 1948 but kept the name Pendlebury's on the store.