Kidderminster Wilko staff say final goodbye to store

The doors shut at 6pm on Tuesday (September 26) with staff singing ‘I will survive’ and dancing the conga in an emotional goodbye to the town after almost 30 years.

The team danced the conga outside the shop when the doors had finally closed (Image: NQ)

Longest serving staff member, Wendy Stoten, 62, who has worked at the store since it opened in 1994, said: “It’s not sunk in properly, I haven’t processed that we’re never going to step foot in the store again.

“I was here when it opened and remember putting up the shelving, so to still be here when we’re taking all the shelves down is really hard to deal with. I’ll be in floods of tears when I get home.”

From left to right, staff members Martine Paddock, Michelle Fellows and Sharon Yarrington (Image: NQ)

Despite the staff being upset at the closure, the team made the most of their time together by making signs asking for jobs, singing, dressing up and wishing their supervisor a happy birthday.

As it got closer to 6pm, customers and passersby clapped and cheered as the staff said goodbye to the town over the speakers and thanked everyone for their service.

Staff still had fun despite the sad closure. From left to right, Julie Thombs, Jenny Powell and Sally Maiden (Image: NQ)

Sally Maiden, 49, said: “I’ve worked here for 24 years, but took redundancy four years ago and came back.

“Although it’s been really upsetting, we’ve also been having a lot of fun and making memories together we can all treasure. We’ll always remember our Wilko family.”

The group have plans to stay in touch and will organise a night out together over the coming weeks to celebrate all their hard work over the past few decades.

Long-serving staff members Martine Paddock and Jo Neilson (Image: NQ)

Although some staff quickly want to return to work, others see it as an opportunity for family time.

Ms Stoten added: “I’ve not had Christmas off for 35 years, so I think it’s about time I treated myself.”