The Sovereign Centre's Manager Simon Clayton-Paine retired on Friday 27th August after 20 years service at the heart of Boscombe’s retail community.
A career soldier, serving for 22 years with the Grenadier Guards, Simon was appointed Centre Manager of the Sovereign Centre five months before it opened on 15th October 1990 by the then Managing Agent, Phoenix Beard.
Soon after the centre’s opening Simon was diagnosed with cancer, a condition that he still battles to this day some 20 years later. Despite his painful and somewhat debilitating illness Simon made an immediate impact on the retail community in Boscombe. He rarely took a day off, except for necessary hospital treatment surrounding his ongoing illness, and he continuously campaigned for the town, attracting many retailers with support from his loyal and motivated team; many of whom have been with him for most of his time at The Sovereign Centre.
An excellent administrator, Simon ensured that the centre’s organisation was second to none whilst encouraging and motivating his team who have been responsible for many innovations in the shopping centre industry over the last 20 years. One such innovation is the ‘mic net’ system that links all the centre’s retailers via radio communication; a system that has been adopted by shopping centres all over the UK.
Simon’s successor, Bill McPherson, has worked with Simon for over 18 years. “There is no doubt that Simon has left me with some pretty big shoes to fill,” said Bill “Simon’s excellent leadership despite his illness is testament to the type of man he is. Determined and exacting, he’s going to be a tough act to follow. “
A commemorative plaque was unveiled by the Sovereign Centre Management Team on Friday 27th August at 3pm marking Simon’s retirement and the renaming of the Centre’s main square. It was a sombre occasion filled with many memories and anecdotes from Simon and some of the Centre’s longest-serving retailers, all of whom wished him all the best for his retirement.
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The Sovereign Shopping Centre 600 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 4SX Telephone: 01202 392721 | Fax: 01202 392723 | E-Mail: Joan.Neale@eu.jll.com |
