THANKS to Mrs Elizabeth Voysey of Preston, Weymouth, for writing to the pages of Looking Back with her memories of working in former Weymouth department store Hawkes Freeman Ltd.
She was employed in the St Mary Street store in 1948 as a trainee cashier.
Elizabeth said: “It was ‘the store’ then consisting of many departments.
“We had furniture, haberdashery, tools and even funeral directors!
“I remember as a young starter having to list wreaths sent to funerals and also preparing the various requirements for embalming! I can still smell the fluid.
“They made coffins on the top floor.”
Elizabeth then progressed to cashier under the eye of Mr Power and the other cashier later married Bernard Hawkes, the son of the Hawkes.
She said: “The whole store was run by a retired army colonel who was Colonel Bradley – an amazing man.
“I remember receiving some dead mice sent by some ‘oik’ in the furniture department who thought it was a huge joke – what days!”
She also remembers the store being used as an American officers’ club during the war.
“Also I remember the jazz bands that used to play there to entertain them.
“Thank you for the memories!”
We’re very grateful to you for sharing your memories Elizabeth.
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