A pensioner who worked at Clarks for nearly seven decades has been let go from the shop she dedicated her life to – after being given just a week’s notice.
Shoe shop worker Jill Cornick began working at the store in Blandford, Dorset, in 1956, when she was just 14 years old.
She then continued to work at the same shop every day for the next 68 years, even postponing her honeymoon in 1969 in order to attend a training course.
When her son Jason was born in 1975, she put him in a playpen and raised him alongside her on the shop floor.
But her decades of service came to an abrupt end in April after Clarks announced it was shutting the shop down with immediate effect.
On her final day of work, masses of customers popped in to say goodbye and delivered flowers and chocolates to thank her for her years of customer service.
Jill said: ‘We were all on Thursday that we were closing on the Monday. It gave us all a bit of a shock.
‘I started in 1956 and have been in the same shop since. I felt well in myself and I was hoping I was going to do another few years before I retired. It is a real shame.
‘Monday was overwhelming, I had so many people bringing in flowers and chocolates. I’ve helped so many customers over the years and some people were nearly in tears.
‘In some instances I have helped four generations in the same family to size their shoes.
‘I think now I’m going to have a rest and go to the beach more. I won’t be travelling anywhere to work. I will do charity work or something.
‘I loved the job, it was my life. I lived there above the shop for years and brought my son up there. I will miss it but I don’t want to start again now.’
Mrs Cornick’s first job at Clarks was cleaning hob nail studded boots in 1956.
In her many years of service she has performed various roles, including long stints as manager and master shoe fitter.
Now a widow following her husband David’s death in 2016, Jill said she has only taken a handful of sick days in her decades of work and she was furloughed for three months in 2020 during the Covid national lockdown.
The 82-year-old says she has always had a good relationship with the customers and has been ‘overwhelmed’ by the messages of support that she has received from them.
Her favourite part of the job was helping children to get their new shoes for school.
‘I have many, many highlights from over the years but my fondest memories are of the really good staff that I have worked with,’ she added.
A Clarks spokesperson said: ‘We sincerely thank all members of the Blandford Forum store team for their contributions and commitment to providing outstanding customer service – specifically Jill, whose remarkable and unprecedented 68 years of service and dedication to our customers is hugely
valued by all at Clarks.
‘We wish Jill all the very best.’
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