Your Stories: Working in the same shop for nearly 40 years

Q. How did you get into travel?
At school, we went to college for typing lessons and it was there I heard about travel agent jobs. I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ After leaving school, I worked in the accounts department at the Co-operative Bank in Worksop. Then I saw a job advert for Woodcock Travel in Worksop, so my first job in travel was there, in 1977. Woodcock Travel was a family-owned agency that had been around for about 100 years. I came third in a junior salesperson award scheme run by Worksop Chamber of Trade. 

Q. What were your early days like?
We had no computers; we used the phone all the time – often on hold to operators. When brochures came out, there would be queues outside because people wanted to book free child places. I remember selling currency, including pesetas, drachmas and francs, using a sheet that we’d balance up at the end of each day.

Customer bookings were handwritten and kept in different files in drawers for provisionally held ones, confirmations and ticket collections. Tickets would come in the post, along with luggage labels. We’d issue tickets by hand, working out the mileage, fare, codes and routeing, and then validate with the airline stamp, which was like an old credit card machine. You had to pass a British Airways exam to sell BA tickets.

Q. How did you end up at Wickersley?
I left the Worksop branch in 1981 to start a family. In 1986, I saw a job advert for the Wickersley branch of Woodcock Travel and started there on November 10 that year. The shop later became an Apollo branch, then Co-op, then Thomas Cook – and now Hays Travel. I’ve had a lot of new uniforms over the years. Many customers have become friends – I also sell to the children and grandchildren of older customers.

I’ll be coming in with my Zimmer frame!

I remember booking a round-the-world cruise for a single lady when I was at Woodcock. It cost £20,000 and I thought, ‘I hope she doesn’t think it’s £2,000!’ She invited me and colleagues to have lunch at her house. There were challenging times too, such as 9/11, the volcanic ash cloud of 2010 and Covid. We pulled together as a team and supported each other and our customers. We worked from home during Covid, with calls to the branch diverted to members of staff. I still see my old colleagues from years ago – we meet for a coffee every few months.

Q. What are your sales tips?
In 1992, I won the salesperson of the year award run by Rotherham Chamber of Trade – and £300 in holiday vouchers. It’s all about how you approach customers. I remember something that stuck with me from my very early days: treat every customer the same. Even if they only want a rail or coach ticket, because next time they might buy a round-the-world cruise. Give good service and they should come back. Every customer who comes through the door pays your wages.

I’m no whizz kid with technology but I get through. It is a very busy shop and it’s in a good area. Last year, I was given the honour of reopening the branch after it had been refurbished. It looked amazing and we had drinks and nibbles for our customers and tour operators. It was wonderful to be back working together – I love it here.

Q. Tell us about your own travels
My first holiday was with Club Pontinental, owned by Pontins – I went to Majorca for £49. In those days you could smoke on planes. Meals were included; you didn’t have to pay for extras. I’ve been to a lot of places over the years – Spain, Greece, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Florida and many more. I recall an educational to Washington DC, around 27 years ago, and one to Madeira, around 47 years ago. I’m going on a four-night Disney Dream cruise in August with six grandchildren, heading to La Coruña, Spain.