LOOKING busy was the secret of success when working at the famous old Oxleys department store - now long gone and replaced by a series of small business units at the junction of Barrow Street with Claughton Street, St Helens.

For although this family store had a great spirit of comradeship about it, the ownership frowned on any staff found lolling about or engaging in conversation.

Mrs Marjorie Marsh of Pewfall picked out her mother, Doris Baines, on a recent flashback photo featuring the large (almost totally female) staff, marking a special 1949 Jubilee event with a Mayoral Dinner at the town hall.

Reminiscent of the Grace Brothers establishment of television's 'Are You Being Served?' fame, the Oxley's store was a happy and rather old-fashioned place in which to work.

"My mother used to tell me that she preferred to be kept busy," says Marjorie, "as you couldn't be seen standing behind the counter doing nothing. You had to polish the fixtures and counters, tidy the stock, display certain articles prominently and keep the floors swept clean.

"Mr David (the various members of the Oxley family were distinguished by their Christian names) used to walk through the store frequently, stopping to talk to staff.

"But there would be a sharp reprimand if he caught anyone talking to other staff members or doing nothing. Therefore, you always had to look busy!"

Marjorie says that when Mr Oxley retired he passed on another shop he owned - at St Helens Junction - to his chief buyer, Miss Forshaw, in appreciation of her long service.

The shop, which will be well remembered by veteran Suttoners, sold babywear, prams and toys. And Miss Forshaw appointed another long-serving Oxley exployee, Bel Toman, as its manager.

Bel joined the family store straight from school, working as a sewing-machinist for the founder, Mr Oxley senior, who had founded the business on the making and selling of shirts. "She used to tell my mother about the long hours for little money and how the girls had to supply their own cotton."

A lifelong friend of Marjorie's mother who later worked for her part-time, Bel retired to Southport when Miss Forshaw died and the Junction shop was sold.

WHAT a different life it was then! Of such homespun details are happy memories made . . .

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.