Debenham's legacy: Mission to honour city's first department
People will be able to view the Memories of Debenhams collection at an exhibition on 13 September.Clair Greenaway, who is leading the project, said: "I'd like to invite people to share their memories and stories, to get in touch with us and perhaps share a photo or a little fragment of something that means something important to them.""I understand how important this building is to the people of Gloucester and city campus is a new incarnation for the building, but it's a moment to reflect on an amazing history and to put that in the context of where we're going next."
As part of the project, history graduates from the university are sifting through the collections at Gloucestershire Archives looking at ledgers, notebooks, blueprints and hundreds of photographs. The site became a huge destination for the city after World War Two, when bosses aimed to sell everything under one roof. It was later sold to Debenhams in 1971 before closing in 2021.A university spokesperson said: "Minute books show how the employees and management were committed to the idea that the building should serve as more than just a department store. "It was also a communal space that hosted events, participated in parades, and did so by engaging the entire staff."Layla Harrison, one of the student researchers, found minutes of a meeting from 1949 where management were discussing how much they could ask staff to contribute towards the city's new war memorial. "I think it shows how involved they wanted to be with stuff going on in the city and how important [the contribution] was to the war memorial which is obviously still something that's so important now," she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
9 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Trump visits Federal Reserve after attacks on Powell
Donald Trump is to tour the Federal Reserve as he ramps up pressure on chairman Jerome Powell. The president is expected to arrive at the central bank at 4pm Washington time (9pm UK) to inspect renovation works. The overhaul has become increasingly contentious in recent weeks, amid speculation Mr Trump is seeking to use cost overruns on the project as an excuse to oust Mr Powell. Mr Trump has been campaigning for months to get the Fed to cut interest rates, posting a regular stream of invective against Mr Powell on his Truth Social online platform. This week he called for Fed's benchmark rate to be 3 percentage points lower than the 4.25pc to 4.5pc rate it is now. The Fed's reluctance to move until it gauges the inflationary effect of Mr Trump's tariffs has prompted the president to repeatedly threaten to sack Mr Powell before his term as Fed chairman ends next May. American law prevents the president from ejecting the Fed boss for reasons related to monetary policy. The only potentially legal cause for removal would be 'inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance'. Mr Trump is also wary of provoking a market meltdown if he is seen to attack the bank's independence on monetary policy. This has prompted the White House to look for other potential triggers – and they have alighted on the controversial renovation project at the Fed's Washington headquarters. The cost of the works was budgeted at $1.9bn (£1.4bn) when the project began in 2021, but has blown out to $2.5bn. The Fed has said that higher post-pandemic costs for labour and materials were responsible, along with unexpected expenses related to asbestos removal and toxic soil contamination. But Mr Trump's senior aides have claimed the project is extravagant and wasteful. They alleged the plans included VIP dining rooms, executive elevators, water features and roof gardens – claims largely rejected by the Fed. Several senior officials have sought to keep up the pressure by arranging to tour the building site and inspect the works personally. Mr Trump has now opted to join them. The president has suggested he is unlikely to try and oust the chairman 'unless he has to leave for fraud'. Several of Mr Trump's aides, including those leading the campaign against the Fed, are in the frame to replace Mr Powell.
ITV News
24 minutes ago
- ITV News
What the UK-India trade deal means for Wales
Sir Keir Starmer and India's Narendra Modi are set to agree a trade deal which is understood to be the largest of its kind for its economic impact on Britain. The UK-India trade deal is worth £6 billion in investment for the British economy and will be signed off on Thursday (July 23). It's set to deliver an £80 million boost to Wales's as part of the Plan for Change, with Welsh food and drink, renewable energy and creative sectors set to benefit following a reduction or elimination of tariffs. Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 'Key industries in Wales, such as the renewable energy sector, the creative industries and food and drink producers will see immediate benefits. "On many goods tariffs will be reduced or eliminated. And Welsh businesses will also benefit from access to India's huge procurement market with increased protections so they can confidently export goods and services." According to the Wales Office, 256 Welsh businesses exported goods worth £226 million to India last year. Among those goods is Welsh lamb, which will be able to enter the Indian market duty free from day one, removing a 33% tariff. Gareth Parry, Head of Policy at Farmers Union of Wales, said: "It's really important that we do open up these market opportunities in Asia, the Middle East and other countries across the world. "But we also have to acknowledge how important our nearest trading partners are for the operation of our food system, such as the European Union. We've maintained throughout, ever since the Brexit referendum, that we support maintaining how strong the relationship with our EU partners is, particularly for the trading of Welsh agricultural goods." 'Developing market' for whisky producers Whisky tariffs will be slashed in half, according to the Government, and will fall further over successive years, while other industries including soft drinks, cars and cosmetics are also expected to see cheaper duties. Stephen Davies, Chief Executive of Penderyn Distillery, said: "We are developing our business and brand awareness in both domestic and travel retail sectors in India. It's an exciting and developing market for us. "The agreement to reduce tariffs will provide a better platform for us and our industry to develop links and build business over the next five years. These are exciting times." For Wales' energy sector, the deal will see lower tariffs and unprecedented access to India's public procurement market. The UK already imports £11 billion in goods from India but liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper to buy their best products. The creative sector in Wales will also benefit from increased copyright protections.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Iconic fashion chain plans UK high street RETURN after going bust and shutting 46 stores
AN iconic fashion chain is planning to make a triumphant return to the high street next year, The Sun can exclusively reveal. Ted Baker is set to make a comeback to the British high street in early 2026, sources close to the matter have said. It is understood the brand is planning to return to London, with more details to be confirmed closer to the time. It's not clear yet how many shops there will be or whether there will be any outside the capital. The news comes more than a year after the much-loved brand dramatically collapsed and shuttered all its stores in August 2024. Founded in 1988, Ted Baker was well-known in the 90s for its clothes and accessories with bold and floral designs. A decade ago it was one of the strongest names in the retail sector with 550 shops and concessions around the world - but has recently ran into major difficulties. Shoppers were shocked when the fashion giant fell into administration in March last year. It brought back its website in November last year, stocking a range of menswear, womenswear and accessories. The website currently ships to the UK only but it says it will offer international shipping "very soon". The Sun has approached Ted Baker for comment. What happened to Ted Baker The company's troubles first began in 2019 after its founder Ray Kelvin quit his role following allegations of harassment. Fashion chain to shut all shops It then put out several profit warnings, which is when a company advises the stock market that profits will be lower than expected. In 2020, the retailer said it would axe 160 jobs. More bad news came in March 2024 it collapsed into administration, putting dozens of stores and hundreds of jobs at risk. By then the company had 86 stores across the UK and 975 employees. No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and trading as Ted Baker, appointed Teneo as administrators. NODL blamed a deal going sour between its owners and a Dutch operating partner that had allegedly promised to inject cash into the business. By April, Ted Baker had announced it would close 15 stores with the loss of 120 jobs. The Sun exclusively revealed in July 2024 that the brand was at risk of disappearing from the high street forever within weeks. It was then announced that the last of Ted Baker's 31 stores would be closed for good in August. The brand launched huge clearance sales to get rid of its final stock, with at least one store advertising at least 70% off everything. Shoppers raced to clear the shelves of glamorous maxi dresses, winter coats and men's suits at bargain prices before the stores shut forever. Other iconic brands that have come back from collapse Ted Baker wouldn't be the first brand to make a dramatic comeback to the high street. Shirtmaker T.M. Lewin announced last month it would be opening more stores in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. The brand had fallen into administration and shut all of its 66 branches in 2020. Last year, fashion and homeware chain Cath Kidston made a surprise return by opening a store in Westfield White City, London. The retailer had crashed into administration and shut all of its stores in 2023. Wilko also made a high street comeback with stores in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland almost a year after it went into administration. Meanwhile fashion chain M&Co opened a new store in Scotland a little more than a year after it collapsed. What does going into administration mean? WHEN a company enters into administration, all control is passed to an appointed administrator. The administrator has to leverage the company's assets and business to repay creditors any outstanding debts. Once a company enters administration, a "moratorium" is put in place which means no legal action can be taken against it. Administrators write to your creditors and Companies House to say they've been appointed. They try to stop the company from being liquidated (closing down), and if it can't it pays as much of a company's debts from its remaining assets. The administrator has eight weeks to write a statement explaining what they plan to do to move the business forward. This must be sent to creditors, employees and Companies House and invite them to approve or amend the plans at a meeting. A Notice of Intention is used to inform concerning parties that a company intends to enter administration. It is a physical document which is submitted to court, usually by directors aiming to prevent a company from being liquidated. Like with a standard administration process, a Notice of Intention stops creditors from taking out any legal action over a company while they try and rectify the business.
