Marks & Spencer staff mark 80 years in Burnley

To mark the occasion, staff at the Curzon Street store held a special ceremony where they planted a yellow alder tree and buried a time capsule containing items representing the store as it is today.

They included the current staff uniform, a list of current employees, a photograph of the store team, a ‘Sparks’ loyalty card and a copy of the business’s internal communications for the week.

Tom Wilkinson, assistant store manager, told staff that they would dig the time capsule up in 20 years’ time.

The store’s longest serving member of staff Glynis Dewhurst, who has worked there for 45 years, had the honour of planting the tree and time capsule.

The tree was supplied by Burnley Borough Council in return for a donation from the store and staff from the council’s parks team assisted with the planting ceremony.

As well as the planting ceremony, staff at the store have created displays of photographs and newspaper articles showing the staff and history of the store over its 80 years, which are on show on the shop floor.

Natalie Dugdale, manager of the Burnley store, said: “We are really excited to still be important in Burnley town centre and we have been enjoying celebrating this significant anniversary with our staff and customers.”