AN iconic shoe chain with 320 branches has suddenly closed a town centre store leaving a worker jobless after 70 years service.
Jill Cornick began at the Blandford Forum Clarks aged 14 cleaning nail studded boots in 1956 and can count her days off sick on one hand.
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However the shop closed on Monday, bringing Jill’s remarkable career to an abrupt end.
Although Jill lost her husband in 2016 she was determined to hold down her job in her home town.
Speaking to The Sun in 2020 she said: “My husband died in 2016 and I’m on my own.
“I love meeting the customers. It would be heartbreaking if I couldn’t go back to work. I would not know what to do with myself.”
Unsurprisingly the workaholic found lockdown hugely frustrating, and relished the chance to return to the shop when it was deemed safe to do so.
She said: ” I’m so glad. I thought I might not be allowed to return because I’m over 70, which would have been devastating.
“I may be old but I see myself as a young old so I’m not afraid of catching the virus. I love my job.
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“The technology has changed a lot over the years but I’ve adapted and kept up all the way.
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“This shop is my life.
“When I read the government is considering not letting over-70s back to work it really upset me.”
The high street giant was founded in 1825 and operated across 1,400 stores and franchises internationally at its peak.
Clarks has previously said it has a strong duty of care to all its employees, and is working closely with the store teams.
All is not lost for shoppers though, as the retailer has also relocated and opened new shops.
Which Clarks shops have closed?
A raft of Clarks stores brought down their shutters for good in 2022 and 2023, including:
- Kent in Ashford – end of 2022
- Gillingham, end of 2022
- Murraygate, Dundee – July 25, 2023
- Fareham shopping centre, Hampshire – August 5, 2023
- High Street, Inverness – end of September, 2023
- Grimsby – end of October, 2023
- Newport Retail Park – November, 2023
- Riverside Shopping Centre, Norwich – November, 2023
- Westwood Cross Shopping – mid November, 2023
- High Street, Newcastle – by end of 2023
- Bicester Village, Oxfordshire – December 31, 2023
- The Bridges Shopping Centre, Sunderland – date unknown
A Clarks spokesperson, said: “We sincerely thank all members of the Blandford Forum store team for their contributions and commitment to providing outstanding customer service – specifically Jill, whose remarkable and unprecedented 68 years of service and dedication to our customers is hugely valued by all at Clarks.
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“We wish Jill all the very best.”
