Style and Gerrish employee, 85, recalls how Bradbeers has changed

Isabel Chapman, 85, joined the haberdashery at the Salisbury department store when it was under the management of Mr Knowles in 1954 before working her way up to the role of department manager.

Mrs Chapman worked for the business, which belonged to Debenhams since 1945 and rebranded on March 10, 1973, for 23 years and saw it undergo many changes such as the gradual outsourcing of buying merchandise.

Mrs Chapman (front right) 'backed Britain' in 1971. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Photographs show Mrs Chapman joining her colleagues, the mayor and mayoress inside the store during the 'I'm Backing Britain' campaign to buy British goods in 1971.

She also celebrated the retirement of managing director Mr Knowles in 1959.

The old Style and Gerrish stained glass panel has been displayed in Bradbeers' restaurant, as it was in the old Debenhams.

The S&G stained glass remains in Bradbeers today. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Being a store assistant was very different back when Mrs Chapman started, she said: "You weren't allowed to serve a customer until you'd worked for three months. We had to watch how other people treated the customers."

Before leaving, Mrs Chapman was responsible for the menswear, hardware, fancy goods and ladies' hosiery departments at Style and Gerrish.

"We did keep up with the times," she said.