Wath shop which opened with a ‘margarine till’ celebrates 25 years in business

The Salvation Army shop in Wath’s High Street marked its milestone anniversary with an Alice in Wonderland-themed shop display, tea party and photobooth.

Shop manager Linda Taylor (53), who has been at the store since it first opened, said the eye-catching display had been two years in the making.

“It happened by accident,” she said. “A book came in called Everything About Alice so we decided to do an Alice in Wonderland-themed window for the 25th anniversary.

“It took us a couple of years to save appropriate donations that came in, like teapots, to use in it.

“For any themed window like Christmas or Easter, we save bits that get donated.”

Remembering the shop’s first day of business 25 years ago, Linda said she had used a plastic “margarine till” and a calculator to store the money and work out change.

Loyal customers who have been with her since the first day visited the shop to join in the celebrations.

“I have seen people grow up, get married, have kids — it makes you feel old but I feel part of the Wath community,” she said.

Linda joined the shop after working as a volunteer in its Swinton branch but her association with the Salvation Army goes back to her childhood.

“I’ve been in the Salvation Army since I was eight years old,” she said.

“I played the tambourine in the band and then became a Sunday school teacher — it’s been a big part of my life and now I work here.

“It’s a cause I care about because it does a lot of good work for the homeless.

“I’ve been part of it since I was a little girl and I couldn’t imagine working for any other charity.”

Last year, the Wath branch raised around £70,000 and now has 12 volunteers helping to manage the shop alongside Linda and assistant manager of 18 years Stephen Tucker.

Linda added: “I will probably be here until I retire. Every day is different — I meet a lot of amazing people.”