Margaret Howlett
Margaret Howlett was brought up in Little Glemham and moved to Peasenhall when she married and still lives there. Her mother-in-law had an account with Horners and Margaret has an account book from 1927. She also still has newspaper cuttings from when Jack and Pat retired and Sparrows of Laxfield took over the business, leasing it from the Horners.
Margaret worked at Horners for over 30 years, first for Jack, then for Roger Sparrow and his wife from 1994 and briefly for Mr Siva, finally giving up work for family reasons.
Margaret began as a delivery driver for the Peasenhall store in the late 1960s. The delivery man was ill and he suggested to her that she take over his rounds for a few weeks, which she did. When he returned to work she continued in the Peasenhall shop, managed by Ken Porter. She still did the deliveries occasionally and in the school holidays she would take her children with her. When the store closed she transferred to Yoxford. There was always someone in the office at the Yoxford store, doing the accounts and books. The little lodge to the side was used as a garage for the van and the Horners’ car.
Jack Horner used to pick up her mother-in-law in his car to go to whist drives. Jack used to hire a bus and take staff to Felixstowe or Great Yarmouth once a year for a show and dinner.
Wendy Abbott
Wendy came from Laxfield in 1994 as Supervisor and still works there, part-time, to the present day.