An 82-year-old woman in the United Kingdom who had been employed at Clarks for 68 years was unexpectedly laid off with only two days’ notice. Jill Cornick, a shoe shop employee, started working at the facility in 1956 at the age of 14 and she has been employed by the British business ever since, reported Metro. Cornick’s nearly 70-year tenure came to an end on Monday when the business in the Dorset town shut down. “I dedicated my whole life to Clarks,” she told BBC. In order to continue working, she even put off her honeymoon in 1969 so she could take a training course.

Prior to receiving the unexpected news last Thursday that the store would be shut on Monday, Cornick had just shortened her workweek to three days, but she had no intention of retiring.

This means she will be out of a job for the very first time in her life. After mentioning how many “good memories” she had, the elderly commented, “I think I might retire now.”

Having grown up above the neighbourhood shoe store, Cornick has spent her whole life in Blandford Forum. “I’ve lived there, worked there and brought my baby up there,” she told the news outlet. In the 1970s, she even kept her son Jason’s playpen at the store.

According to Jill Cornick, she believes she has assisted hundreds of clients in selecting the ideal shoe. She claimed to have assisted four generations of the same family in determining their shoe sizes in certain cases.

The woman went on to say that she has always had positive relationships with the clients and felt “overwhelmed” by their supportive comments. Her favourite aspect of the work was assisting kids in getting new shoes for school.

She also told the news portal that she had numerous highlights from the years, but her greatest memories are of the excellent staff with whom she worked. “I would have carried on working there if I could.”

An official from Clarks told BBC that the company is deeply grateful to every member of the Blandford Forum retail staff for their assistance and unwavering dedication to providing outstanding client service. They went on to especially thank Jill Cornick, “whose remarkable and unprecedented 68 years of service and dedication to our customers is hugely valued by all at Clarks.” “We wish Jill all the very best,” they added.