Team Talk – Ali Robinson

As part of our 60 year anniversary, we asked past and present team members to share with us their memories of The Hollies through the years.

Here are a few words from Ali Robinson who was a part of Team Hollies from 2007 – 2009… 

Where to start? First off, I can’t believe it’s 9 years since I left The Hollies, one of the best jobs I have ever had and so, so much fun!!

From memory I was offered a job at The Hollies in 2007 – I had never worked in a shop before and remember thinking I would never master the tills and serve all at the same time! I settled in so quickly as everyone was so friendly towards me and made me feel so welcome – I had moved back to Cheshire from Cornwall in 2004 and working for you all at The Hollies was the first time in three years that I had a social life and friends of my own. It is still the only place I visit whenever I am passing through to visit my Dad in Cumbria.

Phil and Ed showed an amazing degree of faith in my kitchen abilities when they let me loose in the cafe kitchen at Stretton! I learned so much from everyone, building those amazing Hollies version of a Cornish cream tea -layering jam and cream then piling it high with soft fruits; they were stunningly good to look at and to eat! How to create hand-tied bouquets from Phil, a skill I still put to good use today!

Then, of course, the fabulous nights out for all the various award ceremonies, I particularly remember the evening when we all travelled to the racecourse on the vintage double-decker bus!!!

Lots of love to you all, still miss you and wish you would open a shop down here for me to see out my ‘twilight years’ in!!