OUR feature about the closure of the Woolworths store in Bromsgrove after more than 75 years prompted readers to send in their memories, writes Pete Lammas.

The first is from Bromsgrove reader Tracey Unwin, who told us that her family lived behind Woolworths in one of two cottages on Crown Close until they left in 1939 to move to King George Close.

“My nan Dolly (Doris) Harper worked at Woolworths for a few years during the war, she cleaned behind the ‘tea bar’ usually on a Thursday afternoon because that was early closing in those days,” said Tracey.

“My mum Phyllis Harper (now Eades) also worked there, she started in 1949 when she was 15 and worked there until I was born in 1967. She worked on the shoe counter, selling things like polish, laces, etc. She was then made a supervisor, but cannot remember the year this happened.

“One of her memories is that on a Monday the counters had to be thoroughly cleaned with a duster and a paintbrush with everything removed and replaced and then Lil Roberson would come along with a torch and go behind the counters to make sure it had been done properly.

“Mum also remembers that there were several ‘island’ counters through the shop each with their own till and the staff were in the middle of the islands. She remembers being paid about 7/6 per week when she started.

“My aunt Sylvia Harper also worked there and we think she may have been the longest serving employee in the Bromsgrove store as she worked there for forty years from when she was 14 in 1946 to 1986, when she took redundancy. She worked in the stockroom for all this time and had many experiences with Charlie the ghost.

“It was believed he died in the bottom corner of the stockroom and this is where most of the problems occurred.

“She remembers she would go into work many times to find things scattered all over the floor, she also remembers that lights would be turned off and then come back on again. She also used to find bags of sweets opened even though these sweets were kept in a locked room with only Sylvia having a key.

“Many times it was suggested that some of the lads that worked there moved these things to frighten her, but the lads always denied this. She used to have to sort all the orders out for the shop floor workers and then stack them into a basket and drag them down to the lift. She always used to put the orders in the lift and then walk down the stairs as she was afraid of lifts. She too was paid about 7/6 per week.

“Both mum and Sylvia remember many parties over at the Golden Cross,” adds Tracey.