Department store celebrates 250 years in business

Former staff at one of the oldest family-owned department stores in the country have gathered for a special event to mark its 250th anniversary.

Julie Foster-Burrel, who worked there in the 1970s, said it was a "wonderful place" to work.

Fomer director Mike Hill said: "We have people who left before I joined 54 years ago here and it's remarkable that they have come back in their 90s to say hello."

Hatchers can trace its history back to a drapery shop that was first set up in 1775 and it still employs more than 40 people in Taunton.

Ms Foster-Burrel said famous people like the TV presenter Larry Grayson and comedian Dick Emery used to officially open different departments across the store.

Mike Hill, who was a director there for the last 50 years, said the secret of their success was a management buy out in 1987, which "stopped the predators" from taking it over, plus their "brilliant staff" and a good group of customers who supported them.

Mr Hill said: "We look to the future with confidence."

One of the oldest former employees at the event was Annabelle Breed who said when she first started working there in the 1950s, she was a "scared little girl", but she was there for 12 years and ended up as chief clerk.

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