Marks and Spencers closes its doors for the final time in Wolverhampton

Express & Star

Watch Marks and Spencers closes its doors for the final time in Wolverhampton - Express & Star on Dailymotion

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00:00It's part of the British culture, it was even written about in a song by David Bowie's song

00:06by Mock the Hoople. I bought this coat from here but this store behind me the

00:11Marks & Spencer store closed today at 4 p.m. marking the end of 96 years of work

00:17and selling and community within Wolverhampton. We've been here today

00:21chatting to people about the store, about their memories of it and just gauging

00:26the feeling of how it goes. So let's go and see what people have to say.

00:28Amongst the people who are here on the last day of Marks & Spencer, the doors are

00:34actually not that far from closing, are Barbara and Danusa. What have you ladies bought today?

00:37Food and drink and we like to come to the coffee bar.

00:43What are your memories of Marks & Spencer because I'm assuming you've come over the years?

00:47We've come ever since we were little with our mothers, bought clothes, bought food and it is an

00:54absolutely fabulous shop and it is going to be such a shame for it to go from Wolverhampton.

00:59The staff have been marvellous, if ever you want anything they will look for you and so when

01:08British home stores went that was a loss but Marks & Spencer's Wolverhampton was gone.

01:13Is that your thoughts as well Danuta?

01:15Yes definitely, it's a nostalgia really isn't it?

01:18I mean it's a place to come to Marks isn't it?

01:20I just love the food and everything.

01:22And it's another loss on this High Street as well isn't it?

01:25It's another loss on the High Street because we've only just got the High Street back,

01:29you know we've got Ladbrokes, we've got Clarks, we've got Black Shop across the road,

01:34we've got Marks & Spencer's Telford, we've got Marks & Spencer's Merry Hill,

01:40but everybody, old people, young people, love to come here and it is a day out.

01:46We worked here in Wolverhampton as well.

01:47And we worked in Wolverhampton as well.

01:48And we worked in the offices you know in Wolverhampton so we can meet up there didn't we?

01:52Yes, come and have our sandwiches and have our lunch.

01:54So it was worth coming in the last days?

01:56Oh yes, that's what we've done it for, that's what we came for, to say goodbye to all the staff.

02:02And had a good tea and sent one of those.

02:04I did come in yesterday and I thought today I'm going to come again and say goodbye to the managers,

02:10everyone, because they have been absolutely fabulous.

02:14And I can't say any more.

02:16You can tell she talks.

02:17What's your name, Mercedes?

02:22How long have you worked here, Mercedes?

02:2426 years.

02:24Have you?

02:25Oh.

02:26A lot of times.

02:28Yeah.

02:29How are you feeling, Mercedes?

02:30It's hard to...

02:31It's hard from people.

02:32Yeah?

02:32Yeah.

02:33Yeah.

02:34It's now closed and we've got a few more people here who are ready to share their things about it.

02:39We've got...

02:40Georgia.

02:41And I'll start with yourself first.

02:46You're saying about how it's not just the death of a store, you feel like it's the death of the community.

02:50Yes, yes.

02:51And the town.

02:52Marks and Spencer's been here for quite some time, as you can imagine.

02:56Since 1924, I believe, 29.

03:01There's a group of people who shop here regularly.

03:04Yeah.

03:04They comfort their food, their clothing, toiletries, everything.

03:09And then there's a group of us who meet mostly, Joe's here, like, every day.

03:14Yeah.

03:14Meet the ladies.

03:15We've grown as a group of 20.

03:17Yeah, yeah, yeah.

03:18And all of us know the staff by name.

03:21Yes.

03:21It's been quite an emotional day because it is the killing of a community.

03:26Exactly.

03:27Yes.

03:27I support that.

03:28I support that.

03:29Yeah.

03:30It's a shame to see a big giant like Marks and Spencer to close.

03:35Yeah.

03:36Like what she has expressed.

03:37Yeah.

03:38It is a place where the community.

03:40Yes.

03:41Look at these ladies.

03:42Yes.

03:43Where are they going to go?

03:44What's that?

03:44Fish and chip shop?

03:46No.

03:46Yeah.

03:48This is embarrassing.

03:49This is what you ladies think as well?

03:51Yes.

03:51It's embarrassing.

03:53Yes.

03:53Oh.

03:54I've got a place.

03:55Yeah, man.

03:56It's just totally embarrassing, man.

03:58It's been a treasure.

04:00It's been a treasure.

04:02Oh, my God.

04:03Thank you, ladies.

04:04I feel it's my heart.

04:06Yes.

04:08Thanks.

04:08There's a few more people who have obviously come here today to say their goodbyes to us all.

04:12This is Mrs. Gray and Mark and Margaret.

04:14So, for you both, what are your memories of Marks and Spencer, first of all?

04:18Well, it's a great.

04:20We've been, I have been in this country over 60 years and Mark and Spencer have always been here.

04:28We always buy, spend our money in Mark and Spencer shopping.

04:33And, you know, it's really a sad loss to see it's growing.

04:39Isn't it, Margaret?

04:40Yeah.

04:41It's such a, it's such a, yeah, it's such a sad loss.

04:44A shame.

04:44It is a shame because we grew up, grew up with Marks and Spencer because we were parents

04:49and it was always like a really special treat to shop here.

04:51You've always known the idea of Marks as well.

04:53Yeah, absolutely.

04:54It's almost like it's been in our DNA and it's such a sad loss.

04:58It's almost a bit like losing a good old friend.

05:01Have you had the chance to go and have a look today?

05:03Yes, I have.

05:03I've just come out.

05:04Was there anything you wanted to buy today?

05:05Was it just the sales you'd be?

05:07I was just saying goodbye because I come in more or less every week anyway and I'm talking to the staff.

05:12And it's so heartbreaking that this store that's been here nearly 100 years is now gone.

05:21And did you buy anything today, Mrs. Gray, or is it again?

05:24I'm just going in to see what's there, what I live, what I can have.

05:29I'm just going in.

05:30Clothing or the food hall?

05:31Probably closer.

05:33Food, food probably.

05:35Yeah.

05:37Two people were left to leave this store.

05:39These are the last two people at the store, Sophia and Georgia.

05:42So just tell us about being the last people out.

05:45I mean, how does it feel for you to be the last people to leave this store?

05:48I mean, it's pretty cool.

05:49I feel quite special.

05:51Everyone was watching us come out, so.

05:53Big cheer at the end of it as well.

05:54Yeah, we did get a big cheer.

05:56But you've obviously come here quite a lot to see Marks and Spencer.

05:59It's part of your life as well.

06:01Yeah, we come here pretty much every weekend, so.

06:04We've been here quite a lot of our parents, just shopping and things.

06:06And then we're always popping in for a drink now, so.

06:09What does Marks and Spencer mean to you?

06:11Erm, I mean, I get their meals some, like, or meals, so.

06:18But it's more than that, obviously.

06:19It's the people in there, it's the staff in there, it's the community.

06:22Yeah, yeah.

06:22And it's what it means to your lives as well.

06:23Yeah, it's a good atmosphere.

06:28This is now Jot.

06:29She met her husband here.

06:31So tell me about your memories of the stock, because obviously they're very,

06:34there's lots of good memories for yourself.

06:35Yes, yes, we've been shopping here for decades, literally.

06:40My mum, for me.

06:42And it was part of our life, really.

06:46So today is very bittersweet for yourself, though.

06:48Extremely, I'm gutted.

06:49I just don't know what to think.

06:51I just, you know, I just can't get over it.

06:54It's losing your passport for Hampson's history, as well, today, you think.

06:57That's right, yes.

06:58It's like I was saying, it's like the final nail in the factory now.

07:02Did you get the opportunity to buy a bag full, so you bought some yesterday?

07:05I came yesterday, I bought a whole bag full, but like my final shop, yes.

07:10I had to go, I had to come.

07:12I mean, I live in Canada, but I had to come today.

07:16And it's not like you've come alone.

07:18You've obviously been around lots of people who've been feeling the same thing today, as well.

07:21That's right, the staff, and it's been quite emotional, you know.

07:25I mean, it's not just like a shop for us.

07:29It was just part of our lives, part of our children's, you know.

07:32We'd shop here, and like, you know.

07:35But honestly, I'm just so angry with the governments, you know, one after another.

07:40No one, no one took any notice of our towns, our, you know, our British stores.

07:48And I've been there for centuries, and just slowly dying away.

07:52That's what hurts me most.

07:54Just like, these towns, these vibrant towns, you know, they just won't be the same again.

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