June’s s-till got it

Above: Hollins Park care home resident June and her daughter outside B&Q Macclesfield

A Macclesfield care home resident went back to the store she worked at for one last shift. 

June, who lives at Care UK’s Hollins Park, on Victoria Road, started working at B&Q Macclesfield when it opened in the late 1980s and had her last shift in 1992, when she retired.

As part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative – which enables residents to make wishes big and small – the Hollins Park team decided to take her on a trip down memory lane and organise a special visit, accompanied by June’s daughter.

On the day, June – who used to handle exchanges and returns – was given a B&Q apron and her own name badge – firmly cementing her as one of the team. After a tour of the store and a chat with colleagues, reminiscing on her time there and the people she used to work with, she hopped behind the till once again. Like a true professional, she rang through several items and quickly got the hang of the touch screens, which she hadn’t used during her career.

The visit prompted a host of happy memories, with June sharing stories of her time there: how she used to ‘tear her hair out’ when people brought items back with no receipts, how she was able to pick up DIY tips from the team, and how she quickly had to work on her negotiating skills. The key to being successful, she says, is to be polite and patient.

Tracy Norbury, Home Manager at Hollins Park, added: “June is incredibly sociable – no doubt from her time working at the store – and loves to share anecdotes from her time at B&Q, which is why were so excited to take her back.

“She had a smile on her face from the moment we got into the car, pointing at the streets she used to walk on her way to work, and throughout the entire visit – even the rain couldn’t dampen her enthusiasm!  It was fantastic to hear all the details she was able to remember when walking around the store, and we were all impressed with her skills behind the till.

“Visits like these, as part of our Wishing Tree initiatives, are a crucial part of enabling residents to lead fulfilling lives by celebrating their achievements and careers, while encouraging  reminiscience. We’d like to say a big thank you to the B&Q Macclesfield team for being so welcoming and making June’s visit extra special.”