40 years of the Oxfam roadshow!
Reporter: HELEN KORN
Date published: 25 May 2011
MARY Pendlebury, right, is looking forward to a reunion of 40 years of Oxfam workers in Oldham. With her are Sheila Mayall, Michelle Smith and Gail Jackson
VINTAGE clothes may be the latest look, but when it comes to the forefront of fashion, Oldham’s Oxfam has always led the way.
Forty years ago, in June 1971, the charity opened the town centre’s first branch in Manchester Street, to raise funds for disaster and development work overseas.
Since then there have been three other shops, in St Peter’s precinct — opened by a young Anne Kirkbride ak — and on both sides of Yorkshire Street.
And over the years hundreds of volunteers have given up countless hours to keep the shop — which makes cash from unwanted goods — open.
But none have worked harder than Mary Pendlebury (69) who was one of the first to work there when it was set up by a group of Saddleworth and Oldham women.
Mary, who has spent years doing different jobs around the shop and also 26 years as manageress, still works part-time today, seeing the job as part of her life rather than work.
She said: “I was walking past the shop one day and I just popped my head in and asked if I could help and it all started from there.
The shop has had a lot of memorable moments over its lifetime — including when the late Caron Keating broadcast a children’s Saturday morning TV programme from there and a customer who was overcome when she walked past one of her father’s paintings for sale in the window and gladly bought it for £40.
Mary added: “People volunteer for lots of reasons but behind the scenes there are friendships — a real sense of community.
“It’s fun too — we often get people bringing something to the counter and saying have you got this in another size!
“We get lots of weird and wonderful things and we sometimes have to decide what they are. It’s a bit like being on Antiques Roadshow deciding what things are worth!”
Gail Jackson, the shop manageress, is inviting anyone who has volunteered over the years to join them in week of celebrations which will take place in the last week of June.
She said: “We have welcomed people of all ages into our team and are looking forward to meeting as many of them as possible in June. Please phone me at the shop on 0161-652 4697 and we will put you on the guest list.”
The Yorkshire Street shop is always on the lookout for new volunteers and donations of good quality goods to sell.
