Supporters of sacked supermarket employee Marion Howarth have left Somerfield chairman John Lovering in no doubts as to the strength of their feelings. Mrs Howarth, from Widegates, was given 12 weeks' notice after she declined to work new hours requested by the Looe store management. She has worked at the store for 33 years. The new hours would have meant working later at night and working weekends and would have forced her to take taxis in the absence of a bus service which coincided with her new hours. Anne Allen, of Looe, handed in a petition containing hundreds of signatures to the manager of the store, protesting at the dismissal of long- serving staff member Marion. The petition is addressed to Somerfield chairman Mr Lovering and tells him: 'You will be losing an absolute jewel in the crown if you let Marion go from Somerfield, and also upset hundreds of your customers.' It points out that one of those customers nominated Marion as the UK Shop Assistant of the Year in 1990 in a national competition – Marion was the runner-up and Somerfield's head office was so thrilled that it invited Marion to a celebratory lunch in a top class hotel. 'Does one need a better accolade than that?' the petition asks. Mrs Allen, who organised the petition and the campaign to have Marion reinstated, said afterwards: 'Marion wants to continue working simply because she loves her job and I can assure you that the people of East and West Looe love her and love her being on the till in that store.'
