Muriel started working in Jarrolds’ card department in 1973 but her favourite place was the book department.
I started in the card department, and worked 9am – 5.30pm every day. We used to have to add up in our heads as there was no adding up on tills then, you had to pick things up very quickly.
I went to floating, which meant that when they were short on a department I would go to work there. So again you had to pick things up quickly. I worked on the book department, card department, fashion and sweets. They haven’t had a sweet department for a long time. I think that once I even worked in the restaurant.
My favourite department was the book department. I remember working with Mr Richard’s daughters when they worked part time on Saturdays whilst still at school.
I thoroughly enjoyed working at Jarrolds, it was a very happy atmosphere and Mr Richards was very kind. The majority of the public were very nice, we were polite to them and, you know, they were polite to us.
The management treated the staff very well. I suppose there were some grumbles like you get everywhere, but on the whole I really enjoyed my time there.
We had drinks at my retirement, which was very very nice. The factory and the shop had a dinner every year at St Andrew’s Hall for people who had retired. It was lovely to see your friends again.
Muriel talking to WISEArchive in February 2006.
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