staff.

At A.S. Cooper & Sons, Ltd. longserving members insist that the considerable time they have spent there is largely due to the fact that the company recognises the value of the human element of its operations.

Mrs. Dorothy Petty joined A.S. Cooper & Sons in 1951, and will this September mark her 46th year of service to the company. Initially hired as a part-time cashier at Reid Street, she spent more and more time `out of the box' and was eventually moved to the ladies' sportswear department to join its sales staff.

In 1963, Mrs. Petty moved again, this time to the Bridal Registry. As a bridal consultant, it is her job to assist future brides in their choice of dinnerware, crystal and silver. Many women in Bermuda today are indebted to her for experience and the good advice she has been able to give them in this most important choice.

"I register brides that come in, take their registration as to what they want to order and put it aside and send it after the wedding,'' she explained.

"I'm pretty sure, and I guess you could say that I've served a couple thousand. I have assisted quite a few in their choice of bone china, crystal, flatware and any other things they require and most that register get everything they would like.'' As a gift from Cooper's, Mrs. Petty said, the bride and groom receive a photo album no matter what they have purchased which, with the technological advances made, has seen some changes.

"Lately, many brides have been going towards microwaveable products,'' she said. "Fine bone china is often decorated with gold and silver or platinum and modern brides are going for dinnerware that can be used with the microwave as more wives are working and want those items which are most convenient.'' Having spent so much time with the company, Mrs. Petty said she is very much looking forward to its 100th anniversary celebrations.

"I'm just working part-time now but I really have enjoyed working here,'' she said, "and I'm really looking forward to all the celebrations. A.S. Cooper's is a very good firm to work for, it always has been and because of that, all of us give the best service we can and we do have a lot of satisfied customers.'' Mrs. Monica Cann was the first black salesperson to work on Front Street, employed then in the old A.S. Cooper's store which was located where Butterfield Place is now. This November will mark her 43rd year with the company, a career with which she is most proud.

"I started off as a packer,'' she said, "and then worked in the main store for a period of time before moving on to the Cooper's shop at Hamilton Princess. There was a lady there, Mrs. Hacker, who was very busy one day and taught me how to The human side of retail at Cooper's make out a sales check. Later, when Hamilton Princess was closing the part where our store was, I was moved to the Bermudiana Hotel and then onto Reid Street where I was made a salesperson in the lingerie department there.'' Mrs. Cann said she was then moved to the Front Street store, first as a cashier, and then as a salesperson, first in the gift department and later, in china and crystal, where she remains today.

"I have very much enjoyed working here,'' she said. "I know all the Coopers from their grandfather on down. Many people know that I've been here for a long time and so they will stop and ask my opinion on certain things. And in the hotel shops especially, the latest being as recently as last week, repeat visitors will walk into the stores asking for me.'' Mrs. Barbara Gee joined A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd. in 1950 as executive secretary to Sir Gilbert and Mr. Arthur Cooper. Her duties, according to those in the know, went far beyond those of her title. Her jobs included controller, payroll cashier and in her own way, acting as social secretary for visiting representatives from over Over and beyond the call of duty seas firms. The most frequent of all being Arthur Bryan, Managing Director of Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd.

According to Mrs. Gee, the firm has become something of a second home to her.

Although people have come and gone with new staff replacing some of the old favourites, through all the changes she has been happy to remain.

"I later served as secretary to Mr. Charles Cooper as general manager and then, when we moved to these premises, I was secretary to Edmund and Gilbert Cooper and later, on Edmund Cooper's retirement, to Peter Cooper. I've seen the family grow up more or less and I don't think I could have had better employers. They've been very good to me and also very tolerant of me over the years. But I've throughly enjoyed working for them and found the work to be very educational.'' The Cooper family (standing from left) Lady Jean Cox and her husband, Thomas Forster Cooper; Mary and Edmund Cooper and Mary Louise and Charles Cooper.

Seated from left, Sir Gilbert Cooper, Laura and A.S. Cooper and Arthur Cooper Bridal Consultant, Dorothy Petty Staff from left, Margaret Burgess, Keena Trott, Maria Silvera and supervisor, Sandren Wolfe Longserving staff member, Monica Cann of Cooper's China and Crystal Department A.S. Cooper's display team, Manager Richard Fell and Barbara Cabrall Longserving staff member and executive secretary, Barbara Gee From left to right, Anne Beach, supervisor Yanthe Lee, Carol Heatherington, Makita Hill, supervisor Arnette Lawes, Kim Boreland, Roselyn White and Crystal Richardson from the Birdcage, Women's World and Studio Men's Club Only the best to serve you! The knowledgeable staff in A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd.'s china department, located on the second floor, are experts in helping customers choose from a wide array of exquisite merchandise. From left -- Lavern Burgess, Mrs. Cordeiro, Barbara Bean and Dorothy Petty A.S. Cooper's first floor staff are always on hand to help customers. From left -- Lakira McCoy, Gloria Simmons, Gillian Hill, Anthea Lambert, perfume manageress Christine Soares, Arthur Card, Mrs. Hughes, Lin Perrealt, Mrs.

Brown-Simmons, Ruby Furbert, Mrs. Outerbridge and Veronica Crippen ABOVE: Usually closeted in offices, A. S. Cooper & Sons Ltd.'s fifth floor staff still do their part in keeping each and every one of the store's many customers satisfied -- a task which is especially difficult when there is limited interaction between the two groups. Shown from left, Kathy Rowntree, Lillian Furtardo, Mrs. Paynter, Eloise Smith, Marilyn Gibbons, Karen Wilson, controller George McLarnin, Stephanie Woodings, Mrs. Smith, Regina DeShield and Anne Caton COOPERS 100 YEARS BUSINESS BUC