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Future of Staines Woolworths under threat
Workers at Woolworths stores in Elmbridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne are facing job loss fears as the company goes into administration.
Stores in Hepworth Way, Walton; Station Road, Addlestone; Walton Road, East Molesey; Guildford Street, Chertsey; Station Approach, West Byfleet; High Street, Egham; High Street, Staines, and Church Road, Ashford, are all under threat.
Administrators Deloitte, whose appointment has been confirmed, said it would be looking for a suitable buyer and had received interest from "a number of parties" for both the retail arm and the firm's E.UK wholesaling operation.
But Deloitte's reorganisation services partner Dan Butters said: "We are working hard to ensure that any sale of the business, in whole or part, will preserve jobs."
Woolworths' 813 stores account for the lion's share of the group's staff, with around 25,000 employees. But Deloitte said the 99-year-old retailer will be kept open for business despite a £385m debts.
Stores will remain open until Christmas and employees in stores are expected to be paid.
Do you work at Woolworths? Let us know your views and how this has affected you? Email: surreynewspapers@trinitysouth.co.uk or call 01932 561111.
My memories...
How times have changed? Woolworths was the staple store of any High Street. When I was a small girl, in the late 80s and early 90s, Woolworths was the most trusted brand on the high street with stores in every town.
It's sad that a store such as the Walton branch could close as it holds many memories for me.
I remember when I was about 6 years old, when I used to live in Dale Road.
A trip to Woolworths would always be an adventure for my younger brother and sisters and I. My mum would push the twins in the pram and my younger sister and I would skip off ahead. A trip to Woolworths would almost certainly end in a treat for us all.
I remember when it didn't even sell CD's and we didn't even know that DVD's would exist then. As you went into the store and turned left the wall would be adorned with seven-inch vinyls and cassette tapes. I brought my first ever album in that store.
We used to love the pic n mix too. My favourites were the spearmint chewy mints. The toy section was popular and my mum even worked there for a short period stacking shelves in the evening.
It's such a shame that we could be seeing such a well-known store close especially when there must be so many nostalgic memories for everyone.
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When I was a kid back in the 40's/50's I used to go into Staines Woolies with my Mum, I loved the counters that were low and I could see what was on them, Christmas was always an exciting time, with all the tinsel and wrapping paper and presents to buy; gloves, broches, handkerchiefs, sweets and of course the toys, It always seemed to be bright and cheery in there. A special place to go to at a special time of the year.
When I became a teenager in the 60's I went to Staines Woolies to work in the office, made great friends, still think about those good times. I worked there in that small office over the years with Mrs Gardener, Mrs Parfitt, Ann Rowland, Ann Trencher, Julie ?, Pat Hickmott, Beryl ?, Rita ?. We girls went out together, and we never called the 2 older women by their first names. Mrs Gardener was strict, but guided us girls in being good workers. We were the ones who ran from till to till collecting the money with our overalls flying behind us. We thought that was cool, but were always reprimanded by Mrs Gardener! Beryl and Ann R, were the worse for that and I suppose I did my fair share too! I believe Pat still works there now.
I also worked at Chertsey, Ashford, Egham, Richmond and Twickenham Woolworths when people in their offices were sick or on holiday. We were one big family.
I am sad that Staines is in danger of being closed, I have stacks of memories from there. Woolworths was always a British tradition, even though it was an American company, it is still ours. What can we do to stop the closures?
Gloria (Fowler) Hazell