A WOMAN who became the face of Crowngate Shopping Centre 25 years ago has shared her memories of the role.

Beverley Martin, aged 59, spoke to us as the shopping centre celebrates 25 years in the city.

We’ll be running a series of stories over the next two weeks, looking at the early days of the complex to how it has become a vibrant part of the city today.

Miss Martin - then Beverley Addis - told us how she was hired to be the ‘welcoming face’ of Crowngate ahead of its grand opening.

The public relations firm that hired Miss Martin said that she won them over with her handwritten CV.

She spotted the job in the Worcester News and ended up running the exhibition centre for the complex in Broad Street.

She said: “I used to go out and give talks to people in nursing homes and to the Women’s Institute. It was a really big change in the city. 25 years ago it was quite an innovation.”

Miss Martin added that she became the face of the project through news articles and her interactions with the public.

She said: “When I got the job at Crowngate the Worcester News did an article on it and everyone then got to know me.

“I ran the exhibition centre for two years. I was there from the very beginning. I watched it come out of the ground and become this beautiful shopping centre. I loved that job. It was only a two year contract.”

Miss Martin went on to work as a sales assistant in the centre’s Beatties store, meeting her former husband there before moving with him to Wolverhampton.

She said: “Crowngate did quite a lot for me in my life. It was a lovely time.”

Her daughter, Kerry Ward, of Chase End Close, remembers visiting her mum in the exhibition office where there was a huge model of the shopping centre and bus station.

She said: “That’s where the great big model was, with flyers and leaflets on how it would look.

“My mum worked in there and explained what was going on. I was about 12 at the time. I was very proud.

“I got to go inside [the shopping centre] before it opened. It was exciting.”

It brought a lot of shops to Worcester at the time.”

People’s response has been exciting

Bromsgrove Advertiser:

Erica Burlace

CROWNGATE Shopping Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The complex first opened in Worcester in 1992 and now comprises of 69 retail units and two main shopping areas.

The centre has undergone major refurbishments in the last two decades, with the most recent development being the food quarter in Chapel Walk.

Erica Burlace, aged 40, Crowngate Shopping Centre manager, said: “I’m excited about the response to our 25-year anniversary.

“I’m excited about hearing people’s stories. I’d like to hear about people’s experiences of coming into the city centre.

“What did it used to mean, was it more about meeting up and socialising or driven by a need to get something?”

Ms Burlace said upcoming projects include setting up bee hives above Friary Walk and refurbishing Angel Place.

She added that the centre has also created a pollinator garden near The Hive and, in partnership with HOWC, introduced a free recruitment service for the long-term unemployed.

We want to hear from you

Crowngate wants to hear from the real people and personalities who make shopping and working there great.

They want to hear your memories of Crowngate being built, your favourite shop/ member of staff and why, what you love about shopping at Crowngate and any pictures you have.

Share your memories, stories and photographs:

  • VISIT crowngate-worcester.co.uk/25years
  • EMAIL info@crowngate.net
  • SHARE via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram #CG25years
  • VISIT us at Centre Management, Crowngate Shopping Centre, 54 Friary Walk, Worcester. WR1 3LE (along the corridor next to Mothercare, upstairs)