I suspect this might be the first of many! Ann and I travelled up to Blackfriars in London today for our first HQ Reunion of ‘The Firm’.

Ann was eligible to go too, as she was part of the Store Development in her final years. So we agreed to give it a go and see if we could recognise all those people from years ago.

First, a bit of ancient history. Just after the Romans exited Britannia, I joined Sainsbury’s as a ‘trolley boy’. The clue is in the job-title, and I spent most Friday nights at the tender age of 16-and-a-bit retrieving customer trolleys from the multi-storey car park next to the then-flagship Sainsbury store in Croydon. Sadly, it was closed down in 2023, but at least a couple of us revisited it back in August of that year, for one final ‘goodbye’ before they shut the doors for good!

It would NOT be an understatement to say that JS had a massive impact on my life in terms of how I saw the world of work. It was my first ‘proper job’, and over the years the firm gave me a gold-standard training and development programme; taught me a lot about the importance of a ‘work ethic’; how to build and develop work relationships; mostly though, how to work hard without the constant need to be told I was ‘amazing’.

Fast-forward a few years (and a few different jobs that included Weekend Student, Butchery Boy, Checkout Operator, Warehouseman, Tradesman, Trainee Manager, Junior Manager, Training Specialist, Area Training Manager and finally, Head of Special Training Projects at HQ in London), I got itchy feet – which was unusual for the time and the culture (many workers at JS stayed for a lifetime). These days, it’s not considered healthy to remain with a single organisation for long, but back then, ‘loyalty’ was a thing!

So, some 17 years later, my time with Sainsbury’s had reached its natural endpoint, and on Friday, 3rd March 1989, I said my goodbyes . Tough decision? You bet! But the firm had given me enough knowledge, skills and confidence to start my own business! The rest is ancient history, and I owe Sainsbury’s an awful lot.

Today, was an opportunity to reconnect with some of those who had played a part in all of this where the venue was helpfully also one of my favourite ‘watering holes’ too (it saw an awful lot of me in the late 80s! ) – The Doggett’s perched on Blackfriars Bridge and just a short walk from Sainsbury’s HQ in Stamford Street. Well, it would have been if they hadn’t demolished ‘Stamford House’ back in 2017!

We arrived just after 11.30 where the two floors allocated in the Pub were already filling up with faces from the past.

We met up with Nicki and Julian and were soon drinking our coffees and scanning the room for familiar faces from our past.

Howard Bentley (the first Sainsbury Management Trainer I ever met) and I recognised each other immediately, and we were soon catching up with many, many (many) years since we last saw each other and reflecting on the legend that was Robin Handley (RIP).

I also caught sight of Dave Washington, who, in my early days, was a junior manager – and a popular one too. I also spotted Phil Thomas who was the ADM (Area Display Manager) at around the same time (early 80s) that I was ATM (Area Training Manager) at the Area Office based in Romford. Bill Williams, who is now in charge of this event, was pretty active today, circulating and pressing plenty of flesh. I last remember Bill as the tough very tough Store Manager of the new flagship store at Nine Elms that opened in 1982.

Then, another two of my personal heroes: the evergreen Ken Barden (who recruited us both into JS) accompanied by the well-respected David Clapham, who, back in the day, was a senior manager. Both now in their ‘golden years’ to me, they looked much the same as they did all those years ago. Seems like 70-hour work weeks and 24/7 stress hasn’t affected some of us! . I remember them both as true ‘people persons’ where I had the privilege of working for Ken as my first boss and being David’s PA for a short while over Christmas in the late 70s.

Of course, there was one person I really wanted to chat with, who I knew was attending. Step forward, Andrew McMillan. Andrew was probably the first person I met when I began my career as a Trainee Manager at Sainsbury’s ‘747’ Orpington store in 1976. We became instant friends – and we’ve kept up the friendship ever since! A brief moment of joint mental arithmetic today revealed that we’ve now known each other for 50 years! . Sounds impossible!

I also finally met Julian Durden, who had been a name that I was sure I knew from the past. Other friends of ours who also knew him were convinced that he and I must have known each other. Today was the day when we finally worked it all out! It seemed that by coincidence, we’d both worked at the same stores at about the same time, and so, we had been aware of each other, and probably out of courtesy, politely acknowledged each other day-to-day. Today, we made up for that and spent a fair bit of time chatting and comparing notes of days long gone.

Ann managed to spot some faces she recognised, but they were few and far between.

It was a full-on experience, but in spite of seeing several familiar faces, I was quite surprised at the number of faces I didn’t know. I spent about two years at HQ, where my role required a fair amount of time spent with NON-Training functions – where were all those people today? It was certainly a ‘blokey’ affair too, with very few women attending (maybe reflecting JS and businesses in general at that time?).

Today was certainly well-supported, and through today’s raffle, raised a significant amount of money for the Sainsbury Veterans.

Elsewhere, the Pensions Department was in attendance, handling queries, and the JS Archive team were busy snapping memories for the records.

If there’s such a thing as ‘too well-supported’, then today may have been one of those times. Ken confirmed that there were around 150 people here today – and that’s quite a turnout! The low ceilings in the Pub, combined with the sheer volume of the collective conversations, made it a real challenge just to chat. As I write this, the day after, I can feel that my throat is a little scratchy from having to constantly raise my voice. Both floors were packed, making it feel a little claustrophobic, and where it was almost impossible to take any small group photos due to the lack of space. At its height, it was ‘shoulder to shoulder’.

When the Buffet arrived, I think we were all ready for some nourishment. As we filled our plates, we noticed that the weather outside had improved, and so, with our over-full plates, proper cutlery and serviettes, we headed for the deserted terrace (before anyone else did!). Outside wasn’t the warmest of days, but at least it was quiet and with a great view of the city across Blackfriars Bridge.

Then it began to rain!

Luckily, the rain was light – but the food was delicious! (Well done, Doggett’s – some things don’t change!) and as our empty plates were scooped up by the very efficient staff, we headed back inside to escape the damp, in favour of more nostalgic nattering.

In closing, and on a very personal note, it was, for me, slightly sad to see some of my heroes now looking much older and somewhat frailer. What’s that saying? “Never meet your heroes! ”

Overall, it was a very enjoyable event. These days, ‘The Firm’ is nothing like it was during the era represented here today, but it was good to relive those heady days of a business that for many was paternalistic, standards-centric, tough, regimented and top-of-its-game! It was often fun too, and good to be part of the success!

Today was well organised by the volunteers, but its popularity meant that it was literally ‘standing room only’, making it feel somewhat cramped at times. Because of the noise levels, it’s not an event we’d attend every year, although I’m really glad I attended today. Maybe it’s time for a larger venue to reflect its popularity?

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Return to the Firm – 2026 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Today, together with my first boss – Ken Barden – we returned to the location of my very first ‘proper’ job: Sainsbury’s, Central Croydon aka ‘Store 332′. The reason? We’d heard that Sainsbury’s HQ had taken the commercial decision to close down the store permanently in a few months’ time and we both felt the desire to see it for one last time. The planned closure had been purely a commercial decision. It was restricted with its trading hours (to align with the Centre) and with so many other Sainsbury outlets within a short distance doing longer hours, it just wasn’t bringing in the trade.

By today’s standards, 332 is just ‘another’ Sainsbury Store – one of around 6 in the local area. But, back then in 1969 when it first opened, this was the largest Supermarket in the UK (and some say, Europe) with its 29 checkouts – yes, 29!!!! — and TWO entrances, one at each end. From the employee perspective, there was also the kudos of working in their flagship store!

With a mighty 16000+ sq ft of floor space, it certainly felt large to this 17-year-old who, in 1973, on the insistence of Mum, was (ahem!) encouraged to stop ‘lazing around at home‘ and ‘get yourself a Saturday job’!

The opening year of 1969 was significant too, as it celebrated 100 years of Sainsbury’s on the High Street, and I remember the staff giving pieces of birthday cake to its customers!

And so, it began, in 1973, I officially became a ‘Sainsbury Student’where, for three hours after school each Friday night, plus 9 hours on a Saturday, I earned the princely sum of £3.12!! (second only at the time, to the local M&S, in the ‘best paid’ stakes!) . Do you know what? It was really hard work, but I absolutely loved it. It was less about the money and more about the teamwork, the frantically busy working environment and the ‘rules for everything’, that gave me a real buzz!. I survived that for almost 3 years!

And after those first few years, it turned out to be more than just a Saturday job! How? Fate was to play its part, as after finishing my A-levels followed by a couple of misfires with my first and second career choices (Civil Service and Midland Bank), the JS job morphed into a permanent full-time role on their very well-respected management training scheme. Again, this was encouraged by Ken, attempting to point me in an appropriate career direction. From there, a full-on 18-year career followed, in and out of their stores and culminating as one of Sainsbury’s Regional Training Managers and finally, Head of Special Projects at their Blackfriars HQ.

The Pilgrimage Begins…

I drove over to Ken’s for a traditional retail-type early start (6.30am!) and Ken took the wheel in his bespoke-tuned RS8, and we headed for Croydon. Wow! Croydon has certainly changed a bit, and as a result, it took us a few laps of the famous ‘Wellesley Road’ to find the car-park entrance for Sainsbury’s.

We’d had a good journey there and standing in the Whitgift Centre at just after 8.30am. We thought it was a little early to be descending on the Store, so we took the opportunity to look around the Centre. Conspicuous by its absence, was the favourite ‘watering hole’ of the 332 management back in the day – The Forum. Apparently, it had been demolished years ago! . That was sad, but overall, the place still felt attractive with its 1,302,444 sq ft of retail space – even without the Pub!

We’d been told that the Centre had really gone downhill in the years following our departure (some coincidence, surely! ) but do you know what? It actually looked in good health! OK, it was quiet (but we were early) but it was well-lit, clean and there were plenty of shops to choose from.

Stepping briefly outside the Centre, we could see that some famous names were still in evidence. Sort of! The Allders sign was still up, but the shop was long gone. Kennard’s, the department store a little further down the road, had been replaced by ‘Centrale‘ ANOTHER indoor Shopping Centre competing directly with the Whitgift Centre, I guess.

Next stop was ‘68 Church Street‘ – 332’s sister store (albeit smaller). The route is a lot cleaner and tidier now, and just like the high street, has been fully pedestrianised (apart from the tram route). During my time, I recall the ‘joy’ of manhandling a full roll pallet of cheese from 332 to 68! (yes, really!) And that was in the days where the high street wasn’t pedestrianised and was always heaving with shoppers! A good 30-minute journey that was fraught with H&S nightmares!

Alas, ’68’ is no more, as it’s now occupied by Lidl. We took a quick look around inside, much to the confusion of the ‘Duty Manager’ and realised that actually they are only occupying around 80% of the space with the left of the frontage sealed off.

We circled around to their Goods Inwards and ended up having a brief chat with Lidl’s Deputy Store Manager, swapping notes about supermarkets (as you do!)

We then headed back to the main reason for being there – Sainsbury’s! I’d rung the Store yesterday to let them know that we’d be wandering around their store – and that turned out to be a good move!

The Store Manager was on holiday, but the Deputy and one of their Line Managers had been prepping in anticipation of our arrival (what a nice touch!). They’d arranged a short briefing about the Store for us; laid on a guided tour behind the scenes and invited us to talk to some of the senior staff who’d been there the longest. These days, where some employees don’t always have the loyalty that I experienced, it was good to chat with many of their team who’d individually clocked-up 20-30 years of service each.

Not surprisingly, the store layout had seen some changes. Gone was the ‘back entrance’ for customers. So too, were the ‘rear’ checkouts’. We also noticed that they were only occupying around 50% of the original 16,600 sq ft. space. Consequently, we weren’t able to see the canteen and the upper area for management dining. In the warehouse, the back door area was as familiar as ever, but there was no sign of the Provisions prep area nor the Butchery. Bizarrely, the Plant Room was missing too!

We were there for just under two hours and it was a great experience. Both of us were very grateful to the Store for taking the time to make us feel so welcome. The Store will officially close on Friday, 13th (!!) of October. The end of an era!!!

Update: Friday, 4 October: Came across this online last week. Looks like they’re closing on the 15th October (not 13th!).

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Return to ‘332’ appeared first on Steve's Blog.