Tears as Beatties shuts for final time

Hugs and tears were handed out with the shopping as loyal customers and staff bid a final fond farewell to Beatties at Dudley.

Shoppers who had built up firm friendships with staff visited Dudley's flagship department store for the last time on Saturday.

Many were on the hunt for a bargain while others simply wanted one last nostalgic trip to the store which had been serving the people of the Black Country for four decades.

Owner House of Fraser announced it was shutting the branch in October, saying it was no longer financially viable.

Both staff and customers agreed the closure of the store at the weekend was a sad event for Dudley.

Thousands had flocked to the store's £1 million clearance sale over the past few weeks.

And hundreds attended the store's final trading day on Saturday to grab the remaining items on offer.

From fancy frocks to stylish shoes – everything, including the shop's fixtures and fittings, was up for grabs.

The store's restaurant was doing a roaring trade – but selling cutlery, plates and cups.

And soon racks and shelves were looking bare in the last shopping flurry.

The store's staff gathered together for a group photograph in a show of solidarity and to say thanks for the memories.

Store manager Karen Morris, aged 43, said she could not have hoped for a better group of people to work with.

"It is sad for everyone in Dudley that a department store will no longer be here," she said.

"It has been a sad week but we have got on with it and the staff have put in 100 per cent.

"I'm so grateful to the staff because they work so hard.

"All of the team are wonderful and they had been so professional during this week as we have been closing down the store."

She said she would be moving to be manager at the Shrewsbury store while many of the staff were staying with the company at other branches or leaving to retrain.

There were 76 staff at the shop in total, including 48 employed by concessions.

Pals Margaret Bradley, 59, from Cradley Heath, and Maureen Dudfield, 67, of Tipton, have met every Saturday for more than 15 years for a coffee and a browse through the store.

Former district nurse Margaret said: "It is so sad to see the store like this.

"It is used to be the classiest place around, a cut above the rest and you could always rely on the quality here. I think it'll be the end of the town.

"We haven't really discussed it yet but we will probably end up going to Merry Hill for a cup of coffee now as there is just nowhere to go around here anymore."

Maureen said: "There is nothing to come into the town for now.

"I used to get all the grandchildren's presents from here and now it is such a shame for everyone including the staff who work so hard. We have got to know all the staff here and they are a fantastic bunch."

Retired engineer Dave Connop, 73, was on a shopping trip with his wife Mary, 66, who had been scouring the shelves for bargains.

Her top buy on the day was a £60 pair of trousers which she bought for just £5.

"We are amazed so many people have come down here today, I think it has been the same for weeks now," said Mr Connop of Ingatestone Drive, Kingswinford. "It is a shame. You worry about Dudley as you can't see where you'll get a store like this again."

Young Kelsea Hickman, eight, from Wordsley, had been out shopping with her mother Jayne, 47, auntie Heather, 42, and 69-year-old grandmother Mary, at the store in the Churchill Shopping Centre.

All three generations of the same family were trying on shoes and had already picked out other pairs from the sale.