Local resident Heather Down was the guest of honour at a special event in Nottingham last week, to mark 50 years of working at health and beauty retailer Boots in Bath.
L-R, Alex Gourlay, Heather Down, Elizabeth Fagan
The event, held at the historic Boot family home in Nottingham, celebrated the induction of Heather and seven other new members to the exclusive Boots 50 Year Club.
The club, now in its second year, was created to recognise and celebrate the long serving colleagues who have an incredible 50 or more years’ employment at Boots.
Heather originally joined the company on 5th August 1968 in the Bath Union Street store Leisure department, which included Home, Garden, Cookshop, Pet Food, Records and Books.
She has proudly served the people of Bath ever since, and enjoys welcoming familiar faces to the Southgate store – after 50 years, you can imagine there are quite a few!
A kind and thoughtful colleague, Heather is cherished by the team at the Bath Southgate store, where she currently holds the role of Customer Assistant.
Heather said: “It feels wonderful to be recognised as one of the members of the 50 Year Club and I’ve made lots of fond memories of Boots. I once worked in the Record and Book departments, and before more modern technology, I would wind a handle to power my till during power cuts!
L-R, Sue Austin, Heather Down, Chris Couchman
“There have been lots of changes over the years, but I really have enjoyed every minute and am proud to be part of the team here at the Southgate Centre.
“I feel privileged to work with colleagues, and to service customers, who are also my friends.”
In addition to Heather, 27 other colleagues from across the country are currently in the Boots 50 year club.
Ranging from pharmacy technicians, customer assistants and store managers, their careers with Boots have spanned six decades, and in this time, they have seen the business through an incredibly exciting period of change.
They have seen hundreds of new stores open, the launch of the new ‘wonder drug’ Ibuprofen, helped introduce now internationally renowned skincare products including No7 Protect and Perfect, supported the business to move into the digital age, and are now part of a global pharmacy-led health and wellbeing enterprise.
Chris Couchman, Store Manager, Boots Bath Southgate, said: “Heather is a kind and conscientious colleague, who does not take credit for the brilliant work she does.
“It’s a large flagship store here at Boots Bath Southgate, but customers come back time and time again just to see Heather.”
To recognise their incredible service, Heather joined Elizabeth Fagan, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Boots and Alex Gourlay, Co-Chief Operating Officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance, at the celebratory event in Nottingham, and was presented with a personalised history of Boots and her career, as well as a special gift tailored to her.
Elizabeth Fagan, added: “Celebrating 50 years of employment is an amazing achievement, especially when remaining loyal to one company throughout. Our colleagues are at the very heart of our business, and we know that our success is based on the care that each colleague demonstrates for each other and for their communities.
“This is a very special moment for each of our eight colleagues joining the 50 year Club, and one that should be truly honoured.”
The 50 Year Club celebratory events are held annually, with new members being inducted when they reach their special 50th anniversary.
