Leeds Asda store boss turns weekend DJ to beat lockdown boredom

Simon Gowler, the manager of Asda at Morley, has recently experienced the most hectic week in his 38-year career working for the company.

But he says morale is high during unprecedented times as he and his team focus on keeping shelves well-stocked for NHS staff and Leeds residents.

Mr Gowler, 55, said he enjoys Djing as a hobby and set his virtual studio up on the kichen table of his and wife Kathy's home in Morley on Saturday night and turned on the disco lights .

He started broadcasting his holiday themed tunes show to friends and family on Facebook Live.

He then went public and had dozens of listeners during his two-and-a-half-hour request show.

Mr Gowler, a grandfather-of-three, said: "I put a note out on my Facebook page earlier in the week to say I was planning to go live on Facebook.

"I had lots of friends sending me requests wanting to hear Billy Ocean, Abba and Madonna, all sorts of eighties type music

"So I had a list to start with and then messages started coming up with people asking for songs.

"People said it was a great idea and were asking what time next week?"

Mr Gowler said he is looking at doing a name that tune quiz alongside a request show this Saturday night.

His Djing hobby has provided light relief after what he described as the busiest week of his career in retail.

Father-of three Mr Gowler said: "We had a lot of people panic buying a couple of weeks ago. That week we were selling out nearly every day - a lot of the shelves were empty.

"I have worked for Asda for 38 years and I have never known anything like it in my career."

Mr Gowler said social distancing measures are now in place at his store, which is offering NHS staff only shopping sessions.

Mr Gowler said on Sunday morning Asda Morley staff gathered to applaud around 20 NHS workers when they arrived at the tills.

He said: "Knowing that we are helping and giving a service to the people at the frontline is a good feeling."

Mr Gowler said a number of his staff with underlying health issues are self isolating and an extra 20 people have been recruited and trained up to work on the shop floor.