The new Onchan shop is now open
The new Onchan Shop
Friday 8th September 2006 was a lovely sunny day for the grand opening of 35 Main Road , Onchan, the new Hospice Shop. The Shop is leased from Onchan Commissioners it was therefore befitting to invite the Chairman of the Commissioners Mr Derek Crellin and his wife “cut the ribbon” and allow the long queue of patient customers to take make the first purchases. Other guests who had kindly given up their time to join Share the Care Directors for the opening were Peter Karran, and MHK Adrian Earnshaw MHK.
Part of the queue waiting for
the new Onchan shop to open
The Shop had previously been a Pharmacy and the volunteers led by Volunteer Shop Manager, Marilyn Todd, had spent many months gathering attractive clothes for all ages; shoes, bric-a-brac and books, providing a grand array for all to see. Tooms Brothers had carried out necessary repairs, repainted etc. Lloyd's pharmacy have been very supportive and left lots of shelving and shop equipment to start the shop off with. Julie Jones, Manager of Share the Care and the team of assistants and van drivers and volunteers had pulled out all the stops to ensure the door could be opened to No 35 on the 8th September.
Share the Care remains truly grateful to Mrs Ena Faragher owner of the previous Hospice shop in Onchan, for providing the opportunity to establish a business there in 1999. Mrs Faragher never ceased to be supportive and during a visit to her comfortable home at the Cubbon Residential Home, President of Hospice, Nadene Crowther, Julie Jones and Marilyn Todd, personally thanked her for her kindness during the past years.
Below follows a selection of photographs showing
the opening ceremony and first day's trading:
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Mr. Derek Crellin and his wife Barbara, performed the opening ceremony and after a welcome from Julie Jones - Hospice Shops Manager - and presentation of flowers, Mr. Crellin made a short speech and cut the ribbon to let the waiting public inside. Pictured here left photo: Mrs. Barbara Crellin; Julie Jones; Mr. Derek Crellin; and Marilyn Todd - Onchan Shop Manager. In the RHS photo: Mr. Derek Crellin cuts the tape watched by Julie Jones - with Christine Kay; Peter Karran MHK; Nadene Crowther; and Mrs. Barbara Crellin in the background. |
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| A but Shop! After the doors were opened it did not take more than a few seconds for shoppers to get into the rails and displays - all carefully prepared and beautifully presented - and very good value for money. |
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Don't sell the mirror! It's needed for customers to see how they look in a prospective purchase. Here, Julie McLean, from Share the Care office, admires a lightweight jacket. |
Stacks - literally - of books, puzzles, videos and DVDs but the real interest on 8th September was in clothing. Books and things wait for another day. |
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| Marilyn Todd - Onchan Shop Manager - and Julie Jones take a few moments to discuss the opening. Thy seem well pleased. | Siobhan Ellison, from Share the Care office, and
Wendy Drain
,shop volunteer, share a joke with Adrian Earnshaw MHK |
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| There is always something for everyone at a Hospice Shop. Here is a collection of very nice costume jewellery | The till worked hard all day. Here a customer pays for her purchase. Shop volunteers June Aston and Marilyn Kennish thanks her for shopping with Hospice Shops. |
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| Onchan Shop Volunteers - without whom the shop could not operate pose for a group photo: They are L - R: at the very back; Christine Kay and Marilyn Kennish - and in the front row: Wendy Drain, Josephine Hulme, Pamela Colvin, Margaret Green, June Ashton, Marilyn Todd, Aida Podobska and Christina Deakin |