Only local historians will remember a time when Margaret Kenny was not behind the counter at Silvesters in Victoria Ave. And while that may be tongue-in-cheek, there's no denying that if you ask any Wanganui person, the shop and Margaret are inseparable.
But even before Silvesters, Margaret was part of the Avenue retail scene, working in Stenberg's Shoe store just down the street during the school holidays. When Margaret left school she worked in the Post Office in the toll room until she married, but it was when she was working in retail at Something Special at Strath Davis that business icon George Philp-Wright noticed her and offered her a job in his bag shop.
Margaret Williamson was born in Hunterville of farming people, but the family came to Wanganui when she was a baby. She attended school at St John's, Keith Street, Tawhero, Wanganui Intermediate and Wanganui High School. "I wanted to go to Tech [Wanganui Technical College] but they weren't taking girls anymore."
A part-time job after secondary school was Margaret's first foray in the working world, cleaning in Reid Ward at the hospital. "It was good money," she says, "£8 1s and 8d a fortnight, so I used to buy all my own things." It was a job she kept for years, even when she was working full-time elsewhere. "I love cleaning ... I'm a cleanaholic," she says, "And a shopaholic," she adds quickly.
By August this year, Margaret will have been at Silvesters for 26 years. At the time she started, the shop was part of Philp-Wright's Fabrics, with its own little space under the name of Wrights Hats and Bags. When the job was offered, she told the manager, Anne Dempsey, that she had a couple of jobs to which she'd have to give notice.
"But I said I'll keep my night job at the hospital, and I did, for another nine years.
"Mind you, if it weren't for my husband Terry cooking my dinner every night I would not have been able to work at both Silvesters and the hospital."
Margaret became manageress of the bag shop when the next and current generation of Philp-Wrights took over.
The building where Silvesters plies its trade was bought by George Philp-Wright from the Millwards hardware people. "Anne and I came up here from the little shop 17 years ago." At the same time, Margaret employed Noeline Issitt, who is still part of the Silvesters Team, and Robyn Jones.
"At one time, George had about 13 shops in town; all sorts," says Margaret, who has now cut her hours to four afternoons a week.
"When the Majestic Theatre closed, George had racks of clothing in the old building. It was like a street market. He was a lovely man ... and he knew how to make money."
Margaret still loves the job. "I've always been a worker and I like people," she says. "I've met some lovely customers here and made lots of friends."
Silvesters sells bags, hats, luggage and accessories, and seems to have always done well, even in tough economic times.
"Half of our customers are from out of town, and always have been," says Margaret, "And we get so many people who return to us when they're back in the country. Reps used to tell us we had the best bag shop in New Zealand."
Among the handbags, women's hats, scarves, jewellery and other accessories, you'll notice products for men as well. Business bags, briefcases, wallets and cufflinks ... and men's canes and hats too, including rarities like genuine boaters, perfect for Vintage Weekend.
While celebrating her 70th birthday in Paris, Margaret checked out the shops and came back convinced Silvesters is as good as any in Europe.
"And we always have people in the community popping their heads in just to tell us how lovely the window display looks."
If you've ever wondered why the bag shop came to be called Silvesters, it was because George Philp-Wright enjoyed the music of the Victor Silvester Orchestra from the British dance band era.
