Closure of Kemptons

Q. How did you all feel at this point, in '89?

A. Horrible. First of all we didn't really want to close the business, but secondly of course we'd got 1200 people then, I think, made redundant, and that was horrible.

Q. Was there any possibility of selling to anyone in '89?

A. No. Everyone was trying to get out and, or was having to get out or trying to get out, because it was a time when no business, all the business had been done overseas. The general philosophy of all the public, including employees, was well we'll buy the cheapest, we don't mind whether it's made in England or not.

Source: East Midlands Oral History Archive (Ref: R Kempton)