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CITY INSTITUTION: Plummer Roddis as it was before the Second World War.

It was a name many Southampton people will remember with affection as over the years the departmental store of Plummer Roddis became not only a popular place to shop but also a distinctive local landmark.

The original premises was an imposing sight standing at the Junction, on the corner of Commercial Road and Above Bar, but it was one of the many victims of Second World War bombing.

When peace returned the shop reopened in temporary buildings until finally a new store became a reality in 1963 - and boasted that the premises even had an escaltor.

Rumours about Plummers closing began circulating in 1979 but despite these fears the shop continued. However, the beginning of the end was in sight when the lease on the building ran out in 1987.

From then on Plummers survived on borrowed time until it finally closed in December, 1992 and the building was transformed into a second home for the then Southampton Institute of Higher Education.

It was all very different more than four decades earlier when Jean Colverson, nee Baudains, from Bitterne, Southampton, started work at Plummer Roddis in April, 1947, aged just 14. She still has vivid memories of her time there.

"The store at that time still had parts of the building in a Blitz state and there were two huts - one a staff canteen where the cook was a Mrs Poulter who was very strict and I must admit I was scared of her,'' said Jean.

"The other hut was used as a work room where alterations were carrired out.

"The manager was Mr Harman, a charming man who was always walking around the store and keeping in touch with all the staff.

"I remember in the December I was sent to work in the stationery department and in those days you wrote out your own bills.

"Mr Harman was doing his usual walkabout and he stopped to tell me how pleased he was that I had bothered to write Christmas cards' and not Xmas' on my bills.

"Those were the days when details such as that were important.

"Every year the staff treat was a dinner and dance at the old Polygon Hotel. Employees provided their own entertainment and in April, 1954 a few of us got together and called ourselves the Snow Flakes. There was Pat, Carrol, Ernie, Una and myself.

"I wonder where they are now? I would love to hear from them again.''

12:31pm Thursday 3rd April 2008

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