Store re-opening makes waves

WITH the weather getting warmer and trips to the beach on the calendar, the re-opening of the Wilkinson store in Gorleston was a welcome treat for local shoppers looking to grab summer essentials for the seaside.

Eager customers queued up as the chairman of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboats, Jim Carter, and coxswain, Steve Bartram, cut the ceremonial ribbon and officially opened the High Street Shopping Centre store.

Manager Tracey Vernall and Wilkinson's regional manager, Iain McPhee, also joined in the unveiling of the revamped store on Thursday.

There was a party mood marking coxswain Steve Bartram's 20th year on the lifeboat.

To highlight this milestone the store, whose team has supported the lifeboat, made a donation of �50.

Four staff members also had cause to celebrate on the day. Jill Dunn and Karen Russell both toasted 15 years service, and Adam Kaloo and Alison Eaton celebrated raising �700 for Children's Hospice UK, following parachute jump last year.

Representatives from the Anthony Nolan Trust ran a 'guess the number of sweets in the jar' stall. The game raised �70 for the charity, which helps connect Leukemia patients and donors within the region.

A face painter was on hand to entertain local children enjoying the school holidays, transforming them into cats and butterflies for the day.

Store manager Tracy Vernall, said: “The team has worked tirelessly on the makeover and the results are obvious today, we have had incredible feedback from our customers already.

“The store has a fresher, brighter look and it's now a perfect environment to showcase our new aspirational product ranges, as well as a great place for shoppers to pick up beach essentials.”

The Gorleston makeover was part of Wilkinson's nationwide initiative to invest in local towns and refresh existing stores throughout the UK.