Meet the 18 mums keeping it in the family this Mother's Day at Asda Derby
When colleagues at our Derby store say that working at Asda is like being in one big family they're not wrong ... there are 18 different mums at the store who work with their children!
One of the mums looking forward to Mother's Day is checkouts colleague Wendy Fox, who has worked at the store for 19 years. Her 20-year-old daughter, Ellie has been there for two years and is on Click & Collect. Wendy says that Ellie calls her by her name to avoid confusing the other mums.
She said: "When someone says mum here we all turn around! Asda is such a brilliant place to work and we are like one big happy family. We are all friends here and often have nights out together too. I started out as a temp 19 years ago and I'm still here!"
Ellie said: "It really is fun working with my mum. I know that if I any need any help I can always go to my mum. When I used to come in to the store when I was younger I couldn't believe how many people my mum would say hello to – now I'm doing the same!"
Wendy, who has three other children, Jordan, who's 23, Kayden, who's 14, and nine-year-old Jenson, is planning to have a nice family meal on Mother's Day.
Optical colleague Clare, who's 58, first worked at the store 30 years ago, and met her husband Andrew at Asda. Clare's sisters Mandy and Sharon have also worked there, so it was no surprise to her that her daughter Alisha, who's 22, joined her at Asda three years ago.
Clare said: "I suppose it was inevitable that Alisha would work here too! She loves it here and she's loved by everyone. We have lunch together every day and it's a real treat working in the same store as her."
Alisha, who's a front end colleague, said: "I see Mum more here than at home! Each time she comes past she'll check on me and I do the same when I'm passing her department. Everyone know she's my mum, but I'm only just discovering how many people here are related and now when I look at some of my colleagues I do think 'you're familiar'. It's really special how many mums there are working with their children here. I'm taking mum out for some food and to treat her on Mother's Day. She deserves the world, as she's so lovely."
Both Tracey Lawson and her daughter Kirsty Hanrahan work on checkouts. Tracey said: "I've been here 20 years and I love it – everyone is just so friendly. We are just like one big happy family and we all go out on nights together. I think our children see how much we all enjoy it here that they want to work together too.
"Our shift patterns mean that Kirsty and I only work together on a Sunday afternoon but it's nice being with her here. We can look out for each other."
Tracey has three other grown-up children; Shane, Nikki and Gemma, while Kirsty has Amelia, who's 11, Isaac who's nine and two-year-old Tyler.
Kirsty, who's worked at the store for just over a year, said: "I really enjoy working with my mum as we get on so well. She's been here for a lot of years so knows everyone."
Lyndsey Mansfield has worked at the store for 19 years, firstly on front-end and now in the George section and her 18-year-old son George Sims works in Click & Collect.
She said: "He wasn't named after the George department though, his dad named him after George Best!"
Lyndsey's partner Richard Baxter works in security at the store and her other children, Charlie, who's 23, and 29-year-old Amy have worked there in the past.
She said: "It's such a family-oriented store and everyone gets on so well. We do socialise quite a lot and it's nice to bring the kids along.
"I don't see that much of George at work with him being in another department, but it's nice to know he's there."
George, who’s been at the store for two years, said: “My mum’s been here for years and I used to come here a lot when I was growing up but I never ever thought I’d work here.“
Ann Stocker, who's 53, has worked at the store in Spondon for 32 years. Her daughter Jess, 24, started working alongside Ann on the pizza counter last year.
Jess said: "It's so good, because I feel like I already belonged here. They've all known me here since I was a little girl. Mum and I get on really well anyway, so it's nice working with her. Mum's so lovely and easy to talk to. She would look out for me ... though she doesn't need to!"
Ellie Morris, who works with her mum, Claire, on checkouts will be celebrating her 21st birthday the day after Mother's Day, with many friends from work invited to her party.
Ellie said: "I love working alongside my mum as we are so close and get on really well. My boyfriend, Louie, also works in the store with his mum, Dee, and his step-dad Mick."
Claire said: "I don't see much of Ellie at home these days so it's nice that I get to see her at work. I absolutely love working here.We really are one big happy family."