Ann from Asda Caerphilly hangs up her apron after more than half a century

Happy retirement to much-loved bakery colleague Ann Jones from our Caerphilly store who's hung up her apron more than half a century after she first started working there.

Sixty-five-year old Ann first started work at the store – which back then was a Carrefour Hypermarket – on November 21, 1974, when she was only 17 and studying catering at college.

She worked in various department including the deli, the back office and the butchery department and stayed on when Gateway and then Asda took over the building in 1990.

Ann said: "I can't believe it. don't know where the time has gone; it's flown by. It's been lovely though and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.

"I started work at Carrefour in 1972. I don't know why they put a French hypermarket in Caerphilly but they did! I was only 16 and studying catering at the time at Ystrad Mynach College and I went there for work experience at first and then I got a little job there when I was 17 – and the rest is history.

"I worked part-time, after college on a Thursday and a Friday and all day on a Saturday. I did that for a few years, left college and went to work there full time as it was such fun.

"Each September the store held birthday celebrations and there were floats and parades, at Christmas they did the same sort of thing too. We were very young at the time and we all dressed up in all sorts of stuff. It was incredible."

Gateway took over the store in 1988 and then it became an Asda in 1990, moving into the present building in 1996.

Ann said: "I've met so many nice people working in the store, both colleagues and customers. I like to think of myself as a people person. I'm friendly and I'm chatty. I've always enjoyed people's company.

"I've met some brilliant customers, you get to know them over the years. I've had some wonderful management too, from store managers to department mangers to section leaders."

Ann has been been married to Marshall for 35 years and they have a son, Lewis, who's 23. Ann clocked up a total of 48 years of service, after taking a career break when Lewis was born.

She plans to visit the store soon, as a customer.

She said: "I've not had a chance to miss working in the store yet, as it feels like I'm on holiday. I live nearby so I shop there too, so I will be popping it to see everyone."

Ann plans to spend her retirement travelling, especially in the UK.

She said: "While we have all our faculties and our knees and hips work we want to just enjoy life."

Donna Matrons, the store's food hall trading manager, said the whole store would miss Ann.

She said: "I've known Ann for eight years and she's always been a happy colleague with a great positive outlook on work and life in general.

"She would have a go at anything you asked her to do and always give 100 per cent. She will be greatly missed by all her friends at Asda Caerphilly."

And our store's community champion Teresa added: "Ann is going to be missed so much. We wish her all the best in her retirement."