Gill clocks up 45 years at the counter
It was business as usual today for Gill Rutland behind the counter of the village store in Albrighton where she has loyally served her customers for the past 45 years.
It was business as usual today for Gill Rutland behind the counter of the village store in Albrighton where she has loyally served her customers for the past 45 years.
And the devoted 60-year-old has no plans to retire yet from the job she started after leaving school at the age of 15.
Miss Rutland lives just five minutes walk from the Spar shop in Albrighton High Street. It has had five name changes since she first joined the staff.
"I love it here," she said. "It felt a comfortable and happy place to work from the moment I first walked through the doors and nothing has changed."
Miss Rutland has worked full-time throughout her career and still does a 34-hour week.
She said: "I never get bored and have served the children and grandchildren of people who were among my first customers.
"The job has changed a lot. We used to serve individual items. You would get the customer a packet of tea and then they would ask for a packet of soap and you would go and get that, and so on.
"You would slice and bone all the bacon, grind the coffee and we even sold corn for the chickens. Then you would add up the bill on a piece of paper.
"Now it is self service and you just scan the products.
"I have taken a few days off sick over the years but there have not been many of them. I cannot remember how much I earned when I started, I only wish that I had kept the pay slip.
"I have no plans to retire at the moment but I might reassess the situation after I am 61 because I am due to get my pension then."
Spar shop manager Mrs Jane Pitt said: "Gill is a really dedicated member of staff and a pleasure to work with. She knows all the customers and there is no job she will not try her hand at around the store, even dressing up to charity events. She is the perfect employee."