Sponsored by
Leeds businesswoman, 93, finally retiring
When young Margaret Wilkinson set up her glass business in 1936, with just £72 capital, she never dreamed it would be so successful.
But now, the 93-year-old is finally retiring – and at the weekend the Automobile Glass Company in Leeds closed for the last time.
The shop, on Merrion Street, opened in 1940 and initially sold tough perspex glass to protect vehicle windows during the Second World War.
After the war, Mrs Wilkinson and her late husband Peter started selling decorative fireplace mirrors, which became the store's speciality.
Mrs Wilkinson, of Bramhope, is currently in hospital and is too poorly to see the shop finally close – but her daughter Dawn Jones, 62, said sorting out the stock had been an "emotional" experience.
She said: "It's very, very sad and I think I'm even sadder because mum wanted to be here for the finale but it's not going to be possible.
"She always used to say, 'Whatever will I do when the shop closes'. So many people have come in asking how she is.
"They all talk about what a character she was. She just loved coming down and chatting to people."
Mrs Wilkinson, who was born in Bradford, first became interested in glass though her father, who ran a glass merchant shop called R Walker.
When she met her husband, they decided to set up their own business and move to Leeds so the two firms would not be in competition.
They initially lived in a flat above the Merrion Street business, where Mrs Wilkinson also ran a salon called Hollywood Hairdressing.
In 1960, they moved to their current premises at the other end of Merrion Street, where the business flourished with more than 50 staff.
Mrs Wilkinson paid daily visits to the shop until she was taken ill in December last year – and Mrs Jones said she "truly loved" her business.
She added: "She came down every day, if only for a few hours. She used to wear a different hat every day and everybody loved her hats.
"She often kept the door closed and people had to ring a bell, because she was on her own and she liked to see who was coming in."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
