JS Journal Nov 1983
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Sitting down for a chat in the staff restaurant. On the left is Frances Martin, chief display assistant. 2. The Prime Minister meets Geneive Feasey (left), Brian Kelly, Denise Campbell and Ruth Hyde. In the background — Bill Williams (left) and Roy Griffiths, managing director. Prime Minister THE PRIME MINISTER, Margaret show the Prime Minister how it is Thatcher, made an informal visit to Nine possible to build a first class food store on The PM queued Elms branch on Thursday, October 6. land which has been derelict for many Mrs Thatcher toured the store in years. This must be a constructive use of for coffee Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, meeting urban wasteland. With the success that THE PRIME MINISTER arrived at Nine both customers and staff. we have made of this site at Nine Elms, Elms at 9.30 am. Armed with her shopping The Nine Elms supermarket stands on and with our new store opening only next basket and shopping list, she entered a previously run down central London month at a similarly unconventional site an excitement-charged store. site and is adjacent to the Covent Garden in London's Cromwell Road, I do hope Staff were occupied with their usual market. that further opportunities for imagina duties but each was aware that today they Chairman, Sir John Sainsbury, said of tive schemes will be possible and might be called upon to answer a query the visit: forthcoming in the disused central areas from a very discerning customer. 'I was extremely pleased to be able to of conurbations' Valerie Leary was handing out baskets at the store entrance and was greeted by Mrs Thatcher. 'She said to me: "Good News/Property 4 morning. How are you?" I thought she looked smaller and younger titan she JSJOURNAL Branch opening—Burton 5 does on television.' Branch and Homebase opening- Sir John Sainsbury welcomed the is published every month Bradford 6/7 Prime Minister to the Nine Elms store for employees of and introduced her to Bromley AGM, J Sainsbury pic 25 club dinner 8 David Clapham; district manager, John Spence and store manager, Bill Williams. Stamford House Heart help from HMP 9 Stamford Street The store was open for business as London SE1 9LL Business news 10/11 usual and customers were at first Telephone: 01-921 6660 bewildered by the excitement and then Associate editor Coventry area sports day 12/13 intrigued when they realised who their Yvonne Burke fellow early morning shopper was. Heads Assistant editor New products 14/15 turned and then trolleys were pushed Ann Grain along to join what one radio news reader Design Results of photo competition 16-18 described as a 'frenzied scrummage of Alex Evans News in brief— a round up of activities reporters' pursuing the Prime Minister Typesetting and Printing company wide 19-21 and her entourage. Libra Press Press had been gathering from the Just the job feature 22 early hours and head of public relations, People — appointments, retirements, Christopher Leaver, told the Journal: long service and obituaries 23 'Our chief concern was to prevent the Prime Minister from being mobbed so we Contents Feedback—your letters 23 cordoned off the reporters. Mrs Thatcher's shopping trip 2/3 Archives 24 'Mrs Thatcher was able to enjoy a more comfortable and pleasant visit because of the arrangements' )«««• liP'la, 3. Pressmen clamour round. 4. At the loading bay with Jimmy Newman, Jimmy Busby, John Maurice, Len Payne and, behind, Charlton depot manager, Derek Graham. 5. Sir John Sainsbury and Mrs Thatcher talk with Maureen Whiting. visits Nine Elms But some of the less energetic journalists pointed out to her. Len Payne explained of the staff.' were put out at not being allowed to that this has a far greater capacity than Brian Kelly from the meat room was barge the proceedings as had occurred that of the average sized lorries. tucking into a bag of crisps when the on prime ministerial visits to other Jimmy Newman and the Prime Minister Prime Minister walked up to chat with companies. chatted for a few moments: 'She asked him and his friends: 'She was very human An LBC reporter who failed to catch me if I drove those particular vehicles —not at all frightening and she had a Mrs Thatcher's attention, gave listeners and she wondered what they were like to good sense of humour' an hilarious account of the proceedings drive. She asked me if I ever drove The Prime Minister left at 10.30 am from a 'scrummage' viewpoint: around London and she said she thought after a lively and successful visit. 'The Prime Minister was whisked there ought to be an underpass in around the store by Sir John Sainsbury Parliament square to stop the congestion. himself. His staff were trying out a new 'She seemed interested in what she saw no-nonsense method of keeping journal and it was quite an occasion to meet her.' ists away from the PM. They ran around From the loading bay it was up to the the press corps with a thick rope and training room to see how JS staff acquire OF COURSE this was also a shopping herded the group along like farm animals. their famous skills in customer service. trip so just exactly what went into Any hacks who strayed from the pen also In the training room was property and that VIP basket? found themselves lassoed. The only development director, Gurth Hoyer We can show you that special person who got an exclusive interview Millar, who showed the Prime Minister a shopping list, signed 'Thank you so with Mrs Thatcher was Philip Davis, fish much, Margaret Thatcher.' small exhibition of development work in The purchases totalled £31.05 and manager.' city areas. Jackie Burke was on the checkout at And what did Mrs Thatcher have to Into the staff restaurant and there Mrs the time. Reporters pressed around say to Philip? 'Well, she was speaking Thatcher talked with various members of her-'What did the PM buy? How about salmon, lobsters, crabs, kippers staff. much was the bill?' and haddocks. She asked the sort of Catering supervisor, Maureen Whiting, questions a normal housewife would ask, was on duty by the till. 'The Prime like how the prices compared. She said Minister asked me how long I have been she hadn't seen an old fashioned fish at Nine Elms, how many hours I work display like this for a long time.' each week and she wondered if I found it After a tour of the departments, during easy to get to work from home. She said which she commented upon how fresh she thought the branch was super.' the produce looked and what a high Mrs Thatcher went from table to table proportion of food was British, Mrs in the staff restaurant, joining staff as Thatcher was escorted to the warehouse they took their breaks and talking with and loading bay. them while she, like them, enjoyed a well Charlton drivers, Jimmy Newman and earned cup of coffee. Jimmy Busby and transport supervisor Said Ruth Hyde, store instructor: 'She John Maurice, were responsible for struck me as being very sincere and presenting a number of JS vehicles and interested. She always kept the conversa were introduced to the Prime Minister by tion going. distribution director, Len Payne. In 'We were all very impressed that she particular the new two-tiered lorry was stood in line for her coffee with the rest [EWS NEWS NEWS Senior appointments DENNIS MALES, departmental director branch operations, has been appointed director of Homebase. He replaces Joe Barnes, retail division director, who will now be able to devote more time to his role as director of SavaCentre. Dave Smith, previously Romford AGM, will head the branch merchandis ing and branch planning departments. Dennis Male: Dave Smith David Smith New senior managers David Smith, previously manager, branch merchandising, will be joining Uxbridge area as district manager designate. After a period of training he • will take over Peter Monaghan's district. Peter Monaghan will in turn become responsible for John Phillipson's district. John Phillipson has recently been appointed manager, branch operations. Robert Parle, transport operations manager, has been appointed deputy depot manager at Buntingford depot. Graham Paxton, data services man K1 ager, has been promoted to operations support manager in data processing. John Phillipson Robert Parle Graham Paxton -. PROPERTY OPENINGS to put in your diary for the month of November are: Oldbury Homebase, Ringway/ Halesowen Street, Oldbury, West Midlands on Monday, November 7, at 9.00 am. Cromwell Road supermarket, West London Air Terminal, Cromwell Road, Kensington on Tuesday November 8, at 9.30 am. Halifax supermarket, Goal Lane, Halifax on Tuesday, November 22, at 9.30 am. Branksome Homebase, Parkstone Pipe Works, Branksome, Poole, Dorset on Monday, November 28, at 9.00 am. SavaCentre grows p- Cheque for Liverpool charity wijSW jSffiEwljifti; \ /H-^-JF ON BEHALF of Sainsbury's, Paul Stefan- pioneering new and more effective ways ski (above right), Woolton store manager, of helping, and by promoting and hands over a cheque for £4,000 to John encouraging self help in the community. Kellaway, chairman of the Liverpool 'We combat the wide variety of prob Personal Service Society. lems that can confront any family or The money from Sainsburys charit community. Our doors are open to any able trust will be used to help people in person with a problem. gj distress in Liverpool. Says the Society: 'Despite the growth 'Our future depends upon the financial of formal social services we are needing support we receive from people who care more than ever before to sustain those about those less fortunate than This is Edinburgh's who fall through the gaps in the state themselves.' SavaCentre under construction.