The Garcia Society was formed in 2001 specifically to organise a reunion dinner for Littlewoods’ Store Managers of the 70’s. Its origins go back to those days and the camaraderie of Littlewoods’ Store Managers at that time. This was evident in a number of ways – the fellowship at functions, the grapevine, the drinking……..
After the last “official” company organized managers’ dinner in 1980, several serving managers started meeting occasionally for lunch and this grew into the luncheon club which was organised by Terry Murphy.
In 1999, after most of the guys had left Littlewoods, this turned into an event for non-serving managers and extended into dinners as well as lunches.
The idea for a reunion dinner was born out of these, suggested by Keith Stewart at a lunch in London in May 2001 and the enthusiastic response suggested the ball needed to start rolling! Keith became the chairman of the Garcia Society. The result was the reunion dinner held on 27th February 2002, at the Adelphi in Liverpool. The evening was a resounding success.
There followed informal dinners with smaller groups in the intervening years, each time with some new faces and regrettably some older faces no longer with us
Three years later, in March 2005, another formal reunion occurred at the Adelphi in Liverpool (click on the link below ‘notes from the events’ for details and photos). Again it was a resounding success, this time with many new faces including 14 females and a number of current Littlewoods management along with many faces from the past.
Keith Stewart decided to stand down as chairman and David Martin agreed to take the reins as chairman.
Following the demise of Index stores, and the subsequent total sale of Littlewoods stores to ABF in late 2005, there was an influx of management who wanted to join Garcia.
As a result, a Directory of members has been compiled which is available to those who register. Members have to previously have served with Littlewoods stores, Index stores or the associated stores Head Offices. There are currently around 300 members. Membership is free.
Another informal dinner followed on February 2006 in St Annes. Over 60 members, both original and new Littlewoods and new Index management, enjoyed a 5 course meal and catch up with each other.
The next informal event took place on 28th February 2007, and the next formal dinner was held on Wednesday 27th February 2008.
Other locally arranged gatherings between small groups continue across the country as and when.
Information will be published on this website, so please log on from time to time, and click on the home page link for details of forthcoming, and past, events.