I WAS so very interested to read your article in the paper.

I left school just before I was 15 years old, was born in the lovely village of Alvechurch on April 8 1939. I was one of five children (the fourth in line), and as each child left school my father already had the job lined up for each of us to work in the Royal Enfield Motorcycle Company in Redditch.

However, I was the rebel of the family, there was no way I wanted that job. In the town of Redditch in 1954, I saw a notice in the window of the Evesham Street branch of Dorothy Perkins – junior assistant required, wage £2-23p per week.

I went into the store and gave the very best smile I could to the manageress who was “Miss Key” and lo and behold, was immediately told I had got the job. Truly one of the best days of my entire life. The shop was situated in the very busy Evesham Street with the Milk Bar opposite, a rather posh shop next door was Hollingtons.

Out of my wage each Friday, I had to hand over 25 shillings to my father for my keep. As I lived in the beautiful village of Alvechurch my bus fare cost me five shillings and six pence per week, so I was very much relied on being a good salesgirl, so that I could earn a commission on top of my wage.

My department was to sell loads of bras and pants and I was good at that. I went onto be a senior sales assistant, then deputy manageress, then I was made into a manager and opened a store for Dorothy Perkins in Bromsgrove.

Sylvia Sealey Studley