Asda colleague celebrates her 89th birthday

A local supermarket colleague has celebrated her 89th birthday making her one of Asda’s oldest colleagues in the country and she has revealed she has no plans to retire just yet!

Jean Cockayne works at Asda’s West Bridgford store in Nottingham, the very same store she has been working at for 45 years, since 1971.

Having moved to Nottingham from Leeds at the age of 21, Jean began working in the chilled department at the store located at Loughborough Road, where she now works four days a week in the same department.

Colleagues surprised Jean at home on her birthday by taking her for afternoon tea, before presenting her with a bouquet of flowers in store, surrounded by Jean’s colleagues and friends.

Tony Brennan, general store manager at Asda Bridgford**,** said: “Jean is an absolute treasure and such a joy to work with, so we really wanted to show her how much she’s loved by us all. Jean has been part of our Asda family for 45 years now and still works as hard today as she did when he first joined five decades ago.”

Christine Overy, community champion at Asda West Bridgford, said: “It was quite an emotional moment when we surprised Jean at her home and when she was presented with some flowers in store – the look on her face was priceless.
“Jean is much loved by all her colleagues; she always has a smile and will help anyone. Our customers love Jean just as much and still cannot believe she is 89!”

Born in the summer of 1927, Jean has one daughter who lives in Australia along with her two grandchildren.

Jean, who has no plans to retire, said: "I don’t want to sit inside four walls in the house all day long".

“I’ve seen lots of change over the last 45 years but one thing that has remained constant throughout is the love and support provided by my family and that includes my friends and colleagues at Asda – they are all part of my family.
“I won’t stop until I physically can no longer work; I feel like I’ve got plenty of life left in me.”

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