I had seen leaflets about an exhibition in Leeds on the subject of Marks and Spencer and never really thought of going and having a look.
The above photo shows the entrance to the Marks in Time Exhibition in the Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds. I had forgotten about the M&S exhibition but was in the Parkinson Building for something else, the University of Leeds Art Collection and Gallery. I had never been to the Leeds Uni gallery before despite being in and around Leeds for many years and was pleased to call in and have a look for myself.
Whilst in The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery in the Parkison Building I was given a leaflet by a member of staff for the Marks in Time Exhibition only a few yards away
I have always been interested in social history and M&S as a company has been in our lives for so long that it is easy to take it for granted. As an employer and a retailer Marks and Spencer has been at the forefront of progressive employment practises and good customer relations.
As a boy I was often taken to M&S for new clothes by my mother and I as I write this today my shirt came from M&S and also my trousers too, by chance as I also shop elsewhere now that I have the choice.
It is easy to take the stores that we use for granted, I cannot think of anyone I spoke to about the demise of Woolworths here in the UK who was not sadened by the passing of Woolies. Marks and Spencer may lose its way from time to time like when I called in to buy some trousers and I could have any colour as long as that was black or grey.
In the above photograph can be seen Sophie who is a student at Leeds Uni with her friend Arthur also a student but at Liverpool. As you can see Sophie is raher taken with one of the exhibits, a steel helmet issued to M&S staff in WW2. In the picture between Sophie and Arthur is an outfit worn by staff in the 1920's.
Marks and Spencer started here in Leeds, Yorkshire but I guess not many people know that it nearly was Marks and Dewhirst rather than Spencer.
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