MORE than two decades of memories and work came to an end at Coombe Abbey Hotel last week when one of the venue’s longest serving members of staff retired.
Pauline Wise was one of the very first staff members at Coombe Abbey when it opened as a hotel 22 years ago.
But now Pauline has said goodbye to the team at the Brinklow-based hotel as she has decided to retire.
Pauline has some fantastic memories of her time at Coombe Abbey, where she started as a room attendant and rose through the ranks to become deputy housekeeper.
She said: “Coombe Abbey is a wonderful place to work and it really does carry the mantle of ‘no ordinary hotel’ very well.
“I will take away so many very special memories.”
Those memories include seeing the likes of David Bowie, Take That, Simply Red, Bruce Springsteen and footballers including John Terry and Ashley Cole stop at the venue.
Pauline said: “We have had many famous people stay over the years.
“But I remember David Bowie just being a normal guy.
“He was performing at the NEC and he would sit in the bar and just give guests tickets and chat away.”
Pauline has also seen Coombe Abbey change, develop and grow over the years to become the much-loved venue that it is today.
Colleagues organised a special presentation for Pauline and with flowers, gifts and a cake and also raised a glass to her retirement.
She said: “I’m going to miss the hotel and the people very much, but I thought that now was the right time to retire.
“I have no big plans just yet, I’m going to see what happens next and enjoy it.”
Ron Terry, general manager at Coombe Abbey, wished Pauline well on the next chapter in her life.
He said: “Pauline has been a wonderful asset to Coombe Abbey over the years and her knowledge of the hotel over the years is amazing.
“She is going to be sorely missed by the whole team and we all wish her the very best for the future.”
