Birthday girl Mae is treated like a queen

Always on the go, Mae Simpson had no option but to take things easy, because her colleagues had booked her into a hair salon and beauty parlour for a bit of pampering, and there was a surprise limo ride too. While her birthday is not until today, Wednesday, the surprise celebration began on Friday of last week as Mae is taking a well-earned week off this week. However, she will be meeting up with her colleagues again this Friday, for a night out.

For anyone who frequents the DIY superstore Mae is a familiar figure at the checkout tills, where she has a smile and a happy word for everyone she meets. She has worked there for 19 years, having joined the staff in 1993, but on Friday the smiles were for her as she was bundled off to the hairdresser.

Asked how she was enjoying her birthday, the octogenarian said: “I am having a terrific day thank you. My colleagues sent a member of staff to collect me this morning and we went out to have a beauty treatment and have my hair done. I had my nails done and had my make up done.”

Flabbergasted by the fuss being made over her, Mae revealed that “they sent a limo for me” and her arrival at work was enthusiastic too, with staff and well-wishers gathering at the entrance to greet her

“All the staff and other people were all waiting for me outside, and we had a lovely tea afterwards, I got a birthday cake and blew out the candles. It was a great day,” said Mae, still reeling from the celebrations.

Asked what the secret was to her good health and longevity, she said: “I just love my work. It’s great. It keeps me active I meet lots of people at the checkout. I have no notion of giving up and have never thought about it. I would miss it a lot.”

Store manager, Thomas Sweeney, praised Mae for her contribution to the store and said the day was “all about Mae”.

“She really had a ball. They day was about Mae and not about us. I dropped her off home and Mae summed it up well when she said ‘You would not believe the day I have had’. When Mae got back to the store we had a tea party for customers and staff, and was showered with flowers and presents. She just had a lovely day.

“Mae has a great personality for the store and is a great ambassador for her age group. Her spirit is just wonderful,” said Thomas adding: “It is part of our policy to employ over 50s because of the wealth of knowledge and experience they have of life. At that age people have usually been through one or two house moves so they understand the market and DIY and how to avoid DIY disasters. People in the older age group have a lot to offer.”