Wigan Album

My First Day at Work.
By Tom Walsh .

I leave home in a very nervous state,I've been awake half the night,wondering what the day held in store,would the men be nice,would I be able to come home at dinner time(lunch for southern cousins). My Mother made the morning more anxious, "Have you got a clean handkerchief ", "Have you cleaned your shoes", Have you got your dinner money,(Interpretation time again,lunch)."Mam"I yell back, "Stop fussing I'll be alright if you'll just stop fussing,please",I'm not bothered at all,about going to work,it's just you keep going on"which of course is a complete lie, I don't think I have ever felt so scared in my lifeI start my journey into the new world. I had secured a job,at Lowes. a very posh department store,a week before,as an apprentice carpet fitter,considered a very good trade in those days,I felt very fortunate to have landed a position in such a prestigious establishment. I think this sentiment was shared by most of my family,and by all of my teachers, I hadn't performed well at school,spelling being my biggest drawback,(Thank God,for spell check,
In those unenlightened times ,poor spelling consigned you to the scrap heap. As I nearer the emporium,I start to think I wish I hadn't been so fortunate, I think a less posh place of work would have suited me better. I'm from a mining family,but from my earliest days it had been drilled into me," your not going down the pit ", my Dad had been hurt in a pit fall,and my maternal Grandfather had lost a leg in similar circumstances, but if not there,where? The world certainly wasn't my oyster. In the mile or so walk from home to shop,I convince myself once again,that I am indeed fortuitous.
On reaching the Market Square, I look up at the imposing edifice,that was Lowe's Victoria House, a Cathedral to poshness. Even though I caught the bus for school immediately outside there everyday for four years, I had never dared enter its portals,until I went for interview, Mr.Lowe said my well written letter had impressed him, and got me to the interview stage,I had enough nous not say my sister helped me,in truth she had written it,and I merely copied the missive . My Mother likewise had never entered the hallowed halls, nor I expect had the vast majority of my extended family, far to grand for the likes of us !

As I gaze up,awaiting the courage to enter,I start again to ponder again my suitability for the position,and wished I hadn't answered the advertisement a fortnight earlier. I would surely have found something less daunting and better suited to my background, but here goes I must face the consequences of that much pored over letter,that has landed me in this predicament .

On the day of my interview,I was told my start time would be eight o'clock,but on the first day I would be meet b Mr.Marshall,Furnishing Workroom Manager,at nine o'clock ,and he would introduce me to the staff and show me the ropes.I enter the building just as the Parish Church clock chimes nine.A tall distinguished looking man approaches me."Are you our new recruit" he asks in a decidedly officer type accent."Yes Sir" I mumble,trying to keep my voice as low as possible,it rises three octaves when I'm in a stressful situation. "No need for sir ,your not at school now ,Mr.Marshall will do nicely" he says in a firm abrupt way,I find out in the years ahead was his style of speaking. We take the lift to the top floor, I relived that we don't use the stairs,as I imagine everybody is looking at me,and wondering how I'II fit in,worse still if I'II fit in.

It was a feather in your cap to ‘get on ‘ there Tom in those days. You were somebody if you were a sales assistant, same with Pendlebury’s and Debenham’s. We have definitely lost so much with those big stores. Lowes was the first to go sadly. Full of character and characters working there.

Tom, I absolutely LOVE that story of your first day at work! It is something I will read over and over again, as I do with your "May Queen" story. As for "lunch", can I say it will always be "breakfast, dinner and tea" in our house. It drives me potty to hear how people I grew up with, who always said "I'm goin' in for me dinner now", have suddenly started saying "Shall we go to such-and-such a cafe for our lunch?" or, "We went out for dinner the other night".....WHY?? It's as if they're ashamed of their heritage. Sorry, rant over on that but it drives me potty....what's up with having your dinner and your tea?.
Anyway, back to Lowe's.....it was like Grace Brothers in "Are You Being Served?"....all creaky floors and carpeted stairs, a rather hushed atmosphere, and Wigan's "posh" ladies trying on clothes. I worked at Debenhams in the 1970s but it never had the "creakiness" of Lowe's! I have a dvd at home which shows a clip, (only seconds long), of Father Christmas climbing up on Lowe's roof and disappearing down the "chimney". My late brother, 19 years my senior, remembered it happening, and when he was in a nursing home I was given permission to show the dvd to him but unfortunately he couldn't comprehend what he was watching by that time.
Tom, I'm sure you told me when we were chatting once that Lowe's had a ghost, and I have a feeling that someone, (it may have been someone other than you, but I can't remember who it was), told me that when Lowe's was demolished, someone in the bank that took its place, saw the ghost....as if she still haunted the spot even though the store was gone. I remember you saying the security man's dog could sense something. If you have time, I'm sure it would make an interesting addition to this post. Also, thanks to Ron for posting these fascinating old adverts.

Sales Assistant eh, did you have to ask the gentlemen which side they dressed on.

Tom was a carpet fitter, Derf!

Lovely story Tom, it also brings back memories of our first day's at work, as well..Irene, I agree with you about Lunch and Dinner.Instead of Dinner and Tea.It drives me potty too.xx