Former PGG Wrightson manager: You can't work forever

Long-serving staff member Kathryn Fagg is retiring this month from PGG Wrightson's Outram store. Photo: Christine O'Connor

After nearly three decades working at PGG Wrightson's store in Outram, Kathryn Fagg is calling time.

Mrs Fagg (66), who works in customer service and, until a year ago, was store manager, is retiring on March 15.

Retirement was a little bittersweet, although she was looking forward to having more free time.

"I have been reluctant to retire because I've enjoyed my job so much. I just decided you can't work forever," she said.

Brought up at Wyllies Crossing — "I never moved terribly far" — Mrs Fagg did a hairdressing apprenticeship after leaving Columba College.

Hairdressing continued after marriage to Neil and the arrival of children as it was something that she could do at home. When a friend asked if she would help out at the Wrightson store one day, she did so — and never left. It later merged to become PGG Wrightson.

It had been a very good company to work for and she had been treated well over the years, she said.

Asked why she had stayed so long, there was no hesitation when she said — "the people".

"The clients and the work colleagues ... that's really what kept me. It's the people and our business is built on relationships," she said.

She was now dealing with third-generation farmers, sometimes accompanied by the fourth-generation.

She used to have a large garden and, when someone suggested she needed to put newspapers down on it, a local farmer turned up with a big load — far more than she needed — that he had "gathered up from everybody".

There had been many changes, including the demise of market gardening in the area, changes in technology and the product range, the focus on health and safety, and an increase in the size of family-owned dairy farms in the area.

Local farmers were quick to praise Mrs Fagg, with Outram dairy farmer Denis Aitken — who went to pony club events with her — saying she had an ability "to fill farmers' needs on the phone straight away", and she had always kept up with the ever-changing technology.

The Reid family, from Traquair Station, had also had a long involvement, and James Reid said Mrs Fagg had "great people skills".

Mrs Fagg said nothing would change too much, as she would probably do some relieving at the store. She was looking forward to spending more time with grandchildren, travelling and maybe doing some voluntary work.