Workers bid final farewell to Kays (From Worcester News)

Workers bid final farewell to Kays

3:31pm Friday 23rd February 2007 in News By Claire Fry, @clairefryWN #WENews

THE last trickle of workers finished their shift at Kays - as the gates closed on 120 years of Worcester history.

At its peak the catalogue firm - now called Littlewoods Shop Direct - employed nearly 6,000 people in the Faithfull City, but just a handful were left to lock up the St John's factory in Bransford Road on Friday.

Union members and councillors have fought hard to keep the warehousing and distributing sites open at the Bransford Road site but to no avail.

And as the workers left the firm's St John's factory site for the final time there was more than one tearful eye.

For Andy Simcock it wasn't just the end of an era for the city, but his family, when Kays closed for good.

Warehouse operative Mr Simcock has worked at the Bransford Road factory for 30 years and even met his wife Jennifer at the firm.

On Friday the couple left the site for the final time together.

"Most of my family has worked here," said Mr Simcock, who lives in Rushwick.

"I started in the summer of 1976 when I was 17 years old - it was one of the hottest summers on record and at night they had to leave the windows open."

And the family connection doesn't end there - his aunt Janet Simcock dedicated 43 years to the firm.

She said: "It's the only job I have ever known and I don't know what to do now, I'm meant to be retiring soon. It's empty in there now. But when you think of it, it used to be buzzing in there."

Fred Boylan, aged 45, has worked there for the majority of his life - a total of 29 years in the warehouse.

The production manager said for many people, even though they knew it was coming, the end was a shock.

"I think many people think they are just going on their Christmas break and will be back in the new year. It hasn't quite settled in their head," he said.

"They have phased out a lot of people slowly. There is only going to be a few security guards left to keep an eye on the building."

Mr Boylan added that some people would be looking for a job straight away but he was going to take a few weeks for himself before actively seeking any job he can do in the city.

"It's sad really as there have been generations of the same family working there," he said.

Phil Hawkins, from St John's, who has worked at Kays for 13 years, said: "It's a very sad day for everybody. Over the years most people who have lived in Worcester have had some connection with Kays. They were a major employer for the city. I have to start again and try and find something else to do."

Senior shop steward and Transport and General Workers union member Sean Glennon, who has worked for the company for 16 years, said it was a sad day.

Mr Glennon said: "It's quite depressing. There has been no production for the last few weeks, and only about 100 people left here now. Most days staff leave by 11 o'clock as there is nothing to do.

"Mr Glennon, who has been in his current position for the past 11 years, said it had been difficult for many people to find work.

"My own options are limited but I am pursuing work within the trade union as I like to help people. "The union did manage to secure a good redundancy package for most of the workers," he added.

The 43 year old, who lives in St John's, said for many people there was not that much opportunity for people to find similar work in Worcester.

"We have had hundreds of jobs go over the last few years - there was around 800 - 900 people working here at one time. And 600 of these have gone in the last six months. So it is going to be a sad day for all, but we have had a long time to get used to the idea.

"People here have worked hard right to the death which shows the type of people who have worked here."

It was announced last September that the site would be closing to reduce costs for the company.

MP Mike Foster said it was a sad day but the closure had been on the horizon for a few years. He said they had fought hard for it to stay open and had managed to get a good redundancy package for the workers.

A spokesman for the Littlewoods Shop Direct group confirmed the last day of operations and around 500 people in total will have lost their jobs.

He said: "The site will be used for trucks and vans. But in terms of redevelopment there are no plans formulated at this stage but we will be using the yard for trailer movement and vehicle maintenance."

He added all operations were now being moved to a site near Manchester.

SEE tomorrow's Worcester News for more reaction with pictures and a look through the archives at Kays past.