Search for
Search for
Search for70-year-old McDonald's worker retires after 26 years
Thursday, October 23, 2008, 07:30
Eileen Gray, who turns 71 next month, began working at the St Peter's Street branch in 1982 when she was recruited by franchise owner Mike Matthews to organise children's parties. Seven years later, Mr Matthews promoted her to dining assistant and the grandmother-of-four has remained in the role ever since.
"I just love my job," she said. "I've seen a lot of managers come and go over the years and most of them are quite young. Working with them has kept me feeling younger."
Eileen, of Crayford Road, Alvaston, retires at 3pm today and admitted it would be a tearful occasion.
"It will be quite emotional and I'll feel very sad to leave them all because I've had a great time."
Mr Matthews, who himself retired last December, opened the restaurant in May 1981 and gave Eileen a job after the clothes shop for which she was working closed down.
He described her as an outstanding employee.
"I always refused to let her retire because she brought so much to the business," he said. "She carried out her job with understated elegance and she had a lovely manner with people.
"She is very gentle and is firm but fair. There's one man who comes in and jokes about how she used to sort him out."
Eileen has seen a lot of change over the years, including a major refurbishment of the restaurant last year and the recent healthy eating campaign, which saw the introduction of salads to the McDonalds range.
She said: "Things have changed but I'll always remember the time when staff dressed up in straw shorts and flowered blouses to promote the pineapple pie.
"I enjoyed organising the children's parties and I love it when some of them come in years later with their own little ones."
Eileen said she was a huge fan of McDonald's food.
"I used to love the quarter-pounder and the Big Macs. But now I tend to go for the chicken sandwich," she said.
She plans to visit the store regularly after her retirement, which she is taking because of back problems, as well as wanting to spend more time with her family.
"My husband retired five years ago and we've just had a new granddaughter born. It'll be great spending time with her," she said.
Eddie Leligdowicz, the store's current franchisee, said Eileen would be missed.
He said: "She is typical of the sort of person we have at McDonald's in terms of making a career here. She is a wonderful lady who has done a superb job and it's sad her time has come to an end."
LOVIN' IT: Eileen Gray retires today after working at the McDonald's restaurant in St Peter's Street, Derby, for 26 years. She says she is a big fan of the food.
Comment on this story