Staff remember the old days

Elaine Day, Marlene Arthur and Bev Jackson remember the old days working at Calder Mackay, a furniture store in Rattray St from the 1930s to 1980s, with other store workers at a reunion in South Dunedin on Saturday.

Twenty-three former staff members, the earliest of which began work there in 1947, attended the lunchtime reunion for the shop which was famous for selling little red wooden rocking chairs for children once a year.

Lucy Mattingly remembered how quiet the store was in those days and how she walked to the Bank of New Zealand with a huge bag full of money and not think anything of it.

"We were so trusting then."

Many remembered buying their own furniture there because it was inexpensive and Warren Moody recalled the "three suites for 99" deal they had for bedroom, dining and lounge furniture.

Mrs Jackson bought her formica table and chairs from the store.