“If you told me back in 1975 that I’d still be here in 2025, I probably wouldn’t believe it”
Colleagues, family and friends raised their glasses this week to celebrate a well-known Belfast woman’s remarkable milestone.
A surprise party at Tesco Superstore on Castlereagh Road in the east of the city marked Marie Johnston’s 50-year career with the supermarket chain.
It was back on August 18 1975 that Marie’s career at Tesco, then known as Stewarts, began. The then 16-year-old started off on the Newtownards Road before moving to Connswater Shopping Centre and finally on the Castlereagh Road.
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In the early days, stock was by pen and paper unlike today when everything is done electronically.
Marie told Belfast Live how her long career all came about: “A friend and I were walking up and down this road looking for work. Then I went to the brew and stayed there for four hours to sign on. When I got home my mother went through me wondering where I was because I was late home.
“She told me that I was wanted down at Stewarts so I went to see the manager. I was given a form to take up the stairs, come down and start the next day. That’s how I ended up starting at Stewarts and I’m still here today at Tesco.
“I started off in 1975 and we worked through The Troubles and there were a lot of bomb scares in those days. so we were all put out. One time me and some other girls all went over to The Deeside and sat there until the scare was over.
“Most of the time when we went down, everybody was away back in and we were still sitting in the bar. So some good times and some bad times we had. I moved to Connswater in October 1985 and then when it was closed 10 years ago I came here to Castlereagh Road.
“If you had told me back in 1975 that I’d still be here in 2025, I probably wouldn’t believe it,” she added.
Among those paying tribute to Marie was her friend and colleague, Isabella Martin: “I’ve worked with Marie since this store opened in October 2012. We were together in Connswater too but in different departments. Anytime anybody needs any help, Marie’s there helping everybody out and she’s just a great person to be with. She works really hard and is really good at her job.
“She is very good-natured – she’d do anything for you. When we’ve got to train newcomers she does help out and she’s very good at training and showing them what to do.
“I really enjoy working with her and the two of us together are really good. We get things done right and quick. I like working with her because she is one of these ones who just keeps at it until we’re done.”
Meanwhile 2025 is also a big year for Lynn Mann, customer experience manager, who is marking 40 working at Tesco.
She said: “Marie has worked at the company, from Stewart’s right through to Tesco, so she has been with us for a very long time and we’re very fond of her.
“She’s just like an institution, part of the store. I’ve actually known her for 40 years because I started working for the company back in 1985. But everybody knows her, all the customers know her, and all the staff love her.
“I have worked with Marie since I was 18 years old so I grew up with her over the years. She started off being my boss and then the tables turned and now I’m her boss. We’ve had a really good working relationship over the years and she’s been really good to work for and with. She is a really good friend to everybody.”
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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