Meeting Prince Charles and a snake charmer
RACY I BRAHIM has worked there, i n J ohn L e wis, Brent Cross since it opened.
“I came straight from school,” says Tracy, now married with three adult children. Back in 1976, she joined the company training scheme and progressed rapidly. “I started in ladies’ fashions, then I went to children’s wear and nursery furniture. It felt like I knew every mother and child in North West London.” She was also part of a team who were sent to work at short notice in any department where there were staff shortages. “That enabled me to cover every department except accounts,” she says. “John Lewis is my home away from home. It’s a very fair company and a lot of training is offered.”
Now a section manager in A Place to Eat, on the top floor, Tracy looks back on her years at Brent Cross with affection. “I was here when Prince Charles opened the centre. We’ve had lots of actors from here, plus Oasis, Blue, Robbie Williams and Esther Rantzen. I even remember an event where we had a snake charmer in the carpet department. We all got to hold the snake, which was lovely.”
Tracy says that technology has transformed the way the shop operates. “Everything is on computer now; it’s so easy. We used to close the shop on a Saturday night for stock-taking and everyone had to stay. Now we all have hand-held terminals.
“I loved nursery furniture when I was in that department but looking back, I suppose my favourites would be women’s accessories and beauty, as I love jewellery, handbags and fragrances. It was my hobby as well as my job.”