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A BOOTS stalwart has clocked up 40-years service with the company - the last two at the Romsey branch.

Staff at the Hundred-based store presented manager, Marina Caddy, with a bouquet of flowers on Tuesday to mark the milestone in her career. Tonight, the celebrations continue with a party for past and present Boots employees at the Mortimer Arms, in Ower.

Recalling her early days with the company, Marina who lives in Andover with husband, Ron, said: " I started at Boots in Eastleigh when I was 16.

"I worked on the chemist counter and when a Boots store opened in Fareham, I went there as supervisor. I think I was about 22 then and it was in the days when we sold prams, cots and buggies."

Later, Marina relocated to Timothy Whites Cookshop in Winchester, before returning to the Fareham store again as a supervisor.

In 1986, she married Ron at the Salvation Army Hall in Eastleigh. "I travelled to work at Fareham on my moped. It was cold in the winter and I used to look like the Michelin Man with my leggings on," added Marina, whose next chapter with Boots was at Winchester working in the beauty sales department.

It was while employed at the Winchester branch that Marina was asked to stage bridal events at Winchester Guildhall.

She also worked at Boots Basingstoke store, where she was food and baby sales manager, but the big career move up the ladder came when she was approached about taking on the role of area merchandise co-ordinator.

This involved travelling around South-East England and the Channel Islands. Promotion to area merchandise manager followed. Next, Marina took a job at the company's Southampton branch and after a time there, worked at the Hythe branch, where she was made store manager.

"A vacancy came up in Romsey for store manager about six years ago. There were three candidates for the job. I was unsuccessful, but the job came up again in November, 2006 and I applied.

"This time, I got it and started here in December," said 56-year-old Marina, who has helped Andover Baptist Church raise over £30,000 for charity during the last 12-years. She has also raised about £4,000 for Andover Young Carers and Sutton Scotney-based Naomi House Children's Hospice.

"I've enjoyed working at Boots. It's had its ups and downs. What job doesn't? I've got a great team of people working here with me and I couldn't do my job without them," concluded Marina. Her colleague and the store's team manager, Tracy Whitton, said of Marina: "She's a fantastic boss and she's not going anywhere. We won't let her."

2:12pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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