Not just any look back on social history – this is the M&S archive
FLORA SOLOMON was a Russian heiress who played a pioneering role in improving the working conditions of staff at Marks & Spencer.
And this weekend, more than 80 years after she founded the retail giant’s groundbreaking employee welfare programme, her life and achievements were remembered at the M&S company archive at the University of Leeds.
A talk telling Mrs Solomon’s remarkable story was one of the highlights of an event held on Saturday at the archive building as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days festival, a nationwide celebration of English history and culture.
Tours of the site’s state-of-theart museum strongroom – which houses more than 70,000 items – were also on offer to visitors.
The archive building will be in the spotlight again later this week when it hosts a pop-up performance as part of the Leeds International Piano Competition. Thursday’s concert begins at 12.15pm and will feature a series of solo piano recitals. The event is free but places must be booked in advance.
M&S has links with Leeds that can be traced back to its start to life as a penny bazaar at the city’s Kirkgate Market in 1884.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s celebration, M&S company archivist Katharine Carter said: “We’re thrilled to be involved in two events that provide a unique experience for visitors to the archive. We’ve been involved in Heritage Open Day events since our opening.
“Our lunchtime event with the Leeds International Piano Competition will showcase the archive in another way and is the perfect nod to our heritage of selling penny piano sheet music in our penny bazaar in Leeds market.
“The calibre of the pianists is outstanding and the intimate environment is one which can only add to the excitement ahead of the concerto finals at Leeds Town Hall later this week.”