For nearly 50 years, Joyce Smith has been a familiar and much loved face at Marks and Spencer in Rochdale.
Starting as a temporary Christmas worker in 1976, Joyce quickly became part of the fabric of the store and went on to serve as deputy supervisor for the next 25 years.
Now, half a century later, Joyce is still proudly serving customers with the same warmth and dedication that has made her so popular.
She has seen enormous changes in retail over the decades, but one thing, she says, has never changed - the people of Rochdale. “The people here are so lovely and friendly, they are like family,” Joyce said with a smile.
Joyce was delighted to see Marks and Spencer open its new store at Riverside, describing the move as an important investment in the town and a sign of continued confidence in Rochdale. She said: “It is so good that the store moved into the Riverside development and stayed open supporting Rochdale.”
Outside work, Joyce is a proud mother of two grown up sons and a grandmother to two grandchildren. Although she is now past retirement age, she has no plans to slow down any time soon. She said: “I still enjoy working in the store and being around people.”
Colleagues and customers alike describe Joyce as kind, hardworking and endlessly positive, a true example of loyalty, community spirit and dedication.
After 50 remarkable years, she remains one of Rochdale’s finest ambassadors for customer service and proof that it is people like Joyce who truly make this town special.
