Val retires 20 years after popping back from France as temporary help for publisher
There was a very special retirement party at Wendy Jones-Blackett this week as the publisher and designer’s mum Val Codling finally stepped down a mere 20 years after offering to help temporarily.
With a new baby in tow, Wendy called on her parents for help with the business back in 2003 so they came over from their home in France for a short stay in Leeds, only for Val to end up as a pivotal part of the company.
“Many customers will have talked to her on the phone before Jacqui Godlove started 15 years ago and also when covering during the pandemic,” Wendy told PG Buzz, “I can’t thank her enough for all she’s done.”
Having started designing her signature hand-finished and embossed and foiled cards cards in 1996, Wendy was joined by husband Steve in 2001, and it soon became a real family affair with Val beavering away in the background as bookkeeper.
“That’s her speciality,” Wendy added, “but she also answered the phone and did the invoicing. She’s definitely the long-serving member of staff, initially they rented a place temporarily, but we were so busy they decided to stay.
“Over the years she reduced her hours but remained our bookkeeper and has been a hugely important part of the team and a pivotal part of the business for 20 years.
“I think she’s found it less stressful than other life experiences – she and Dad moved to Montserrat in the Caribbean for six months after the volcano went off in the 90s as Dad was in telecommunications so Chapel Allerton and the world of greeting cards has proved less explosive, shall we say!”
And there was a whole company lunch on Tuesday, 13 June, at The Mansion in Leeds to bid Val a very happy retirement – with production manager Lou Gallivan now taking over the mantle as WJB’s longest-serving member of staff, and Jacqui’s not far behind.
Top: Wendy says thanks for everything to mum Val
