10:37am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Catherine Pye
A CHECKOUT supervisor has become known as the Singing Lady of Darwen for warbling while she works.
Krissie Atkin, 46, regularly belts out versions of Abba and show tunes down the aisles of Sainsbury’s in Redearth Road, Darwen, where she has worked for 11 years.
Now customers have set up the Singing Lady of Darwen Sainsbury’s Appreciation Society.
On the social networking site Facebook they have started a group with a video and photographs of Krissie in the act.
She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found out that a customer had set it up for me.
“I’m not very good on the internet, so my daughter has had to show me.
“I’ve always sung. I can’t sing very well, but I enjoy doing it.”
Krissie has even sung Dancing Queen live on local radio after listeners called in about meeting her in the store.
She said: “After I did that, I heard that one man was complaining about me, which is I think is awful.
“It’s hurtful because I do have feelings, and most people seem to enjoy it. I like putting a smile on people’s faces.
“A lot of them say that I must really love my job!”
Krissie, of Alpha Street, Darwen, manages to remain so upbeat despite having to cope with the murder of her son-in-law.
Her daughter Joanne Cetinkaya, 24, who also works in Sainsbury’s, had only married Turkish furniture-maker Hakan two weeks before he was in October 2008.
Krissie said: “I have had my moments with what has happened to Joanne, and I have been very upset for her.
“But I am a very happy and positive person generally, and I believe that you have to carry on with things.
“Joanne says I make her laugh with the singing but she’s never done a duet with me down the aisles. I think I embarrass her a bit!”
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