Elgin Poundland and Woolies stalwart Gerry McAloon set to retire
An era will come to an end this Friday when Gerry McAloon retires from Poundland.
Gerry has been a mainstay of Elgin High Street ever since he first arrived in the town more than 30 years ago.
The 71-year-old was the manager of the Woolworths branch before it closed and was later recruited by Poundland, which opened in the same building.
Gerry says: “My friends have been pulling my leg for ages, asking if I was ever going to retire.
“Well, the time has finally come.
“I love working the tills and chatting to people. I’m going to miss that a lot.
“When my relatives come to visit they’re amazed by how many folk say hello when we’re walking through the town.
“They ask, ‘how do you know so many people?’
“I’m also going to miss my colleagues here at Poundland. They’re a good bunch.
“The customer always comes first. After that, though, one of our mantas has always been to have fun.”
A number of Poundland’s directors have been in touch to wish him well, including the company’s managing director Barry Williams.
Gerry says: “It’s demanding but it’s a good company to work for.
“It was a difficult time when Woolworths closed in 2008. A lot of other businesses also disappeared at the same time, such as British Home Stores and MFI.
“I was eight months without a job at the age of 54, sending out my CV without success for things in Glasgow, London and Manchester.
“Being appointed Poundland’s manager was such a relief. Looking back, I think it gave me a new lease of life.”
Gerry started working with Woolworths in his home city of Glasgow in 1972.
After training to become a branch manager in Stirling, he moved to the Cumbrian town of Ulverston in 1979.
From there he went to Thurso where he met his wife Laureen.
Then, following a stint in East Kilbride, he moved to Elgin in February 1993.
He recalls: “I was already familiar with Elgin because Woolworths had held management meetings here. So I knew it was a nice town and a nice part of the world.
“I’ve now been living here longer than anywhere else in my life.
“Over the years I’ve seen a lot of changes.
“Computers and IT have made a big difference. When I first began you kept ledgers and would have to re-order your own stock.
“Nowadays, when things are running low on the shelves they’re replenished automatically.”
Gerry’s plans for his retirement include his four grandchildren as well as what he calls his “grand-dogs”.
He says: “I love taking my daughter’s two dogs for walks up in the fields by the High School. I’m going to have more time for that.”
The Poundland team are now planning a night out in Elgin this weekend to say a fond farewell.
Gerry says: “We were originally thinking of going out on Saturday evening for a few drinks, but that’s Halloween so it might be pretty busy.
“We therefore decided to make it Sunday instead. I’m looking forward to it, especially as I won’t have to get up for work the next morning.”