Caretaker has looked after shopping centre for more than 20 yeaars
A LOT has changed in Tredegar since Chris Sanders took over the position as head caretaker of the town’s Gwent Shopping Centre in the year 2000.
The 75-year-old, who has overseen the maintenance and upkeep of the popular centre for over 22 years, has developed a fierce bond with this part of town in that time, travelling every day to work from his home in Fleurde-Lis to a job he loved.
However, like many high street shopping centres across the Valleys, Chris had seen it start to decline in the wake of a global pandemic.
As the year draws to a close and the former soldier from the Welsh Fusiliers prepares for his retirement, however, ultimately he says there is still a great deal of hope in areas such as his.
Located near the northern entrance of the town, the Gwent shopping centre is currently home to a number of stores such as the Fresh Active gym, Greggs, Poundstretcher, and Boots.
It was thrust in to the spotlight in 2020 when Tredegar was announced as the town with the second highest levels of deprivation among towns in England and Wales, according to a Centre of Towns study which looked at the short-term and long-term implications of coronavirus.
However two years on and stalwart Chris feels there is much cause for optimism now, as he’s noticed larger numbers of stores beginning to reopen and more customers returning to the shopping centre every day.
He said: “There has been a lot of ups and downs with the Gwent Shopping centre since I started in 2000, but to be honest there’s never been a time when I thought it would close down or anything like that because the people here in Tredegar really support it.
“Of course it was strange during the lockdowns as there were hardly any people out and about, which made it look like a complete ghost town, but I was still here every day and gradually the shoppers started to come back.
“In fact, even though we lost a couple of places during that time, there’s not that many empty units here now and I would say that around 96% of them have already been filled back up again which is great.
“It really is picking up and while I’ve noticed that people can sometimes be negative when it comes to the local high streets in Gwent, I think there is actually a lot of positive things that could come to these sorts of areas if they start to support it.
“Obviously as I’m retiring I won’t be here in a working capacity from now on, but I’ll still be around and I really hope the centre can continue to thrive within the town.”
Looking over to the flower beds and reminiscing over his time, Chris says he had many highs and lows during his lengthy 22-year shift, though admits that he doesn’t regret a single one.
He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time taking care of the Gwent Shopping Centre in Tredegar, and since I took the position in the millennium year couldn’t have asked for a better place to work.
“I initially started working there as a security guard, but when the contract ran out they made me an offer to become the caretaker and I never looked back.
“I’ve worked a number of jobs since leaving school at the age of 15 including over 20 years service in the army, and time as a pub landlord, but the role in the Gwent Shopping Centre was always one I was very fond of.
“I had to do a number of jobs each day such as opening and closing the site, keeping it clean, and maintaining the flower beds and paintwork.
“Of course there were challenges with different shops opening and closing, and attacks from vandals, but the place is very close to the heart of the people and I always enjoyed it.
“My best memories would have to be working during in the summer time, tending to the flower beds and entering the Blaenau Gwent in Bloom competitions.
“We won that three times since I started, and have also gotten highly recommended in the Wales in Bloom competition to go with
it. “It’s definitely going to feel strange not being there, but at the same time I am looking forward to relaxing and enjoying my retirement now as well.”
Liam Jenkins of Tredegar works in the popular Fresh Active Gym based in the centre, and says the work of Chris has not gone unnoticed
during the years he has been in charge, and wished him all the best for the future.
He said: “When we heard Chris was retiring we all wanted to say a big congratulations to him on the job he’s done over the past 20 odd years. He’s a face that everyone who comes to the centre will recognise and is someone who works very hard as well.
“Obviously he will be sorely missed here and it’s a shame we have to lose him, but we want to wish him all the best for the future and hope he enjoys his retirement.”
I think there is actually a lot of positive things that could come to these sorts of areas if they start to support it Chris Sanders