Five exceptional colleagues at M&S’ London Colney store in St Albans are celebrating a milestone moment, having achieved 150 years of combined service at M&S.
From starting out on temporary weekend and part-time contracts to becoming seasoned leaders and department experts, Lyndsey Cameron, Vanessa Muncie, Daniel Hertz, Abdul Motin and Tanja McGuiness have consistently gone above and beyond for customers over the decades.
They have played a vital role in everything from the store’s major renewal in December 2022 to its establishment as an M&S Academy, shaping the vibrant, friendly shopping experience for which the store is so well-known.
As the colleagues celebrate this remarkable achievement, they reflect on the memories, milestones, and friendships that have defined their careers.
Vanessa Muncie, the store’s safety officer, is celebrating 31 years with M&S. She says: “I started at M&S part-time at school and have done a bit of everything since, from the shopfloor right up to section manager. The variety has kept things interesting, but the best part is that my closest friends are people I met right here over the last three decades – that’s what really makes it a great place to work.”
Marking 29 years with M&S is Customer Assistant Daniel Hertz. He says: “It’s funny to think I only joined M&S for a summer job while at college, and all these years later I’m still here! I’d tell anyone starting out that if you’re ambitious and work hard, you can go far here. Even though London Colney is one of the biggest M&S stores in the UK, it’s always felt like a small one because everyone is so friendly.”
Speaking on his 26-year career with M&S, HR colleague Abdul Motin commented: “I started here as a student, and after all this time my favourite thing about working at London Colney is still the same - it’s the colleagues, 1000%! It’s a great place to be and I’d tell anyone starting their career in retail to just grab the opportunity and enjoy it."
Merchandising Section Manager Lyndsey Cameron started her career as a teenager 37 years ago: “I’ve been with M&S since I was 16 and have so much pride in the business, so being chosen to cut the ribbon at the London Colney store’s renewal was a huge highlight. This place is special to me - I was here when our store first opened 25 years ago and I even met my husband here, so you could say M&S has a lot to answer for!”
Tanya McGuiness, a sales assistant in the footwear department, is marking her 27th anniversary with M&S. She comments: “I initially joined as a young mum hoping to meet new people, and the flexibility was a lifesaver. I’ve had great fun over the years being nicknamed the ‘Queen of footwear’, starring in a viral TikTok video and even selling a pair of slippers to Bradley Walsh for his mum! Every day is different and that’s thanks to the amazing team we have.”
Over 300 colleagues work across the store, which is led by Store Manager Adam Thomson, he said of the milestone: “It’s been fantastic to celebrate Lyndsey, Vanessa, Daniel, Abdul and Tanja’s hard work with the whole team this month - a massive congratulations to them. I think their achievements really go to show just how many opportunities there are when you work in retail and so many different roles in-store. Once you start out, you quickly learn to love the fast pace, working closely with colleagues and customers, and how every day is truly different.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team here and the community we’ve built together. We always try our best to make the store a special place for colleagues and of course, delivering that M&S magic for our customers, and I look forward to continuing to do that into the future.”
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2026 Corporate