Robinson was asked by branch manager Michelle James to do the honours and cut the ribbon on the revamped shop earlier this week.
Her history with the shop goes back 39 years during which time it has operated under numerous agency brands, including Woodcock, Apollo, Co-operative Travel and Thomas Cook, before being acquired by Hays in 2019.
“I’m now booking holidays for the children and grandchildren of my first customers," said Robinson. "I have lots of regulars - it’s a lovely little place."
Robinson decided to become a travel agent while at school in the 1980s and later started work at the agency, then using the Woodcock name, on 10 November 1986.
"There were no computers in those days,” she recalled. “People would just queue up with the brochure and everything was handwritten. The price in the brochure was the price you paid. You would write out all the airline and rail tickets.”
She also fondly remembers one of her most significant early bookings – a round-the-world cruise for a female client. “I can’t quite remember how much it cost, but I do remember thinking at the time 'does she know how expensive this is going to be?'," added Robinson.
Robinson has worked in the Wickersley branch for nearly 40 years (Credit: Hays Travel)
Branch manager James described Robinson as “an absolute asset to Wickersley” where she remains the shop’s top seller despite only working part-time these days.
"She was also in the Millionaire’s Club, which means she is one of Hays Travel’s top sellers,” said James. “She is an absolute asset to Wickersley. The whole team loves her.”
Robinson has also been very keen to help the many new recruits who have joined the agency over the decades, particularly those embarking on their first job in travel.
“What I was always told is that every customer pays your wages - that has always stuck with me,” she explained. “Whether they’ve come through the door for a rail ticket or a round-the-world cruise, they should receive exactly the same service.”
