One of the oldest supermarket workers in the UK has just celebrated his 90th birthday, and he’s not letting his age stop him.
Ron Ellis, who works as a Customer Service Host at Asda Trafford Park here in Manchester, is not only Asda’s oldest colleague, but at the grand old age of 90, he is now considered to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, supermarket worker in the whole of the UK.
After working as an estimator for a steelworks company for many years, Ron started out his Asda journey as a store ‘Greeter’, before moving onto the checkouts and self scan areas.
And now, despite his age, he’s loves working as a Customer Service Host four days a week, and has “no plans to retire”.
Ron – who is a widower, and has two sons and two grandchildren – has just celebrated his big birthday (24 April), and to mark the very special occasion, he was surprised by his fellow colleagues who showered him with presents, chocolates, and a card, and also made sure to decorate the checkouts area with balloons.
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Of course, no big birthday celebration is complete without a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, and Ron’s chorus was sung by both his colleagues and many of the store’s customers – who, according to Asda, “just love him”.
“I love my job and I’ve no plans to retire,” Ron commented.
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“I’m still going strong and I love coming to work. My colleagues here are brilliant, and we get on so well. When it was my birthday, they were so kind. A lot of people don’t know how old I am, so it came as a surprise, and that day will remain firmly in my memory for the rest of my days.”
Ron also admitted that one of his favourite parts about coming to work is “having a chat with the customers”.
The UK’s oldest supermarket worker from Manchester has just celebrated his 90th birthday / Credit: ASDA
He continued: “We talk about all sorts, including football. I’m a big Man City fan, while many of the customers and colleagues here support United, but it’s all good humoured though as we’re a very friendly store”.
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Catharine Arnold, who works as one of Asda Trafford Park’s Community Champions, called working with Ron a “real privilege”.
“He’s amazing and always has a smile on his face,” she added.
“I hope I’m like that when I’m that age. He’s so very well known by customers and colleagues, they all love him.”
Featured Image – ASDA
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Tickets officially go on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Tickets have now officially gone on sale for rare 70mm IMAX screenings of Dune: Part Three in Manchester.
Arriving on screens from 18 December and gearing up to be one of the most anticipated films of the year, Dune: Part Three – which is the third and final instalment in director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise – will be screening in IMAX 70mm at Vue Manchester Printworks, one of only three venues to show it in this format nationwide.
There are only 40 other venues across the globe showing the film in IMAX 70mm, and Manchester is the only city outside of London to screen the blockbuster this way too.
Based on the novels of Frank Herbert and set nearly two decades after the previous film, Dune: Part Three features an ensemble cast of all-star names led by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
Alongside them will be Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rebecca Ferguson, Robert Pattinson, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin.
After seats for a special early screening of the film in IMAX sold out in less than 30 minutes last month, the IMAX 70mm showings – which officially went live today (20 October) – are expected to be snapped up fast by film fans in Manchester.
“A decade in the making, Denis Villeneuve’s epic Dune trilogy is reaching its dramatic conclusion this December,” explained Dean Cross, who is the Senior Screen Content Manager at Vue.
“As the only venue outside of London to be screening Dune: Part Three in IMAX 70mm, it’s a privilege for us to offer this unique way to experience the film.”
Dune: Part Three is coming to Vue Manchester Printworks on 18 December, and you can book your tickets here.
Featured Image – Warner Bros.
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Free pints and live craft experiences coming to a Manchester pub for one night only
Daisy Jackson
A pop-up pub takeover is opening its doors in Manchester, where you can get your hands on a free pint as well as some amazing craft experiences.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti, who want to help us Brits break out of our daily routines.
Matt & Phreds on Tib Street will welcome The Uncommon Inn on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm to 8pm, giving visitors the chance to discover unusual creative skills and watch artisans at work, with a free pint in hand.
It comes after research commissioned by Poretti found that 61% of UK adults feel they are living on autopilot, while a quarter have not tried a new creative pursuit in five years or more.
Free pints and live craft experiences are coming to a Manchester pub for one night only / Credit: Supplied
The study also found that adults have an average of just 90 minutes of genuine personal time each day, with 58% spending that time watching television and 35% scrolling through social media.
Exhaustion and financial constraints came out as the main barriers preventing people from trying new things.
The Uncommon Inn has been designed to offer an alternative, bringing together a collective of specialist makers to showcase their skills in a familiar pub setting.
Visitors to the Manchester event can watch Giulio Miglietta embroidering personalised beer mats, using a vintage Singer sewing machine dating back to the early 1900s, alongside live hand-engraving and bespoke jewellery-style crafting using recycled silver.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti / Credit: Supplied
Other demonstrations include 3D body-casting by sculptor Ami of Angelcasts and personalised, hand-engraved glassware from Leigh Calligraphy. Sabira of Sken Studios will also demonstrate how recycled silver can be turned into bespoke bottle openers.
Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary pints of Poretti while watching the makers at work.
Caitlin Maley, Senior Brand Manager at Poretti, said: “Modern life moves at an overwhelming pace, and it’s all too easy to fall into autopilot mode where routine replaces curiosity.
“We believe in celebrating intentional craft, rare skills, and authentic human connection – values that are at the core of our brewing heritage.
“We created The Uncommon Inn to turn an ordinary pub visit into an inspiring journey. By bringing together our Masters of Crafts, from chainstitch embroiderers to live engravers and musicians, we’re inviting pubgoers to slow down, pick up a new skill, and enjoy a pint crafted with genuine passion.”
The Uncommon Inn is at Matt & Phreds in Manchester on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm until 8pm.
Emily Sergeant -
14th May 2024 
