Mr D Ramsey

David Ramsey joined the Partnership in 1956 as a junior assistant in the food department at John Barnes. He subsequently became Supervisor then Assistant Manager to the Merchandising Manager (Waitrose). Returning to the Partnership in 1962, following National Service, he became Acting Branch Manager, Wandsworth, and then Branch Manager, Chiswick. He took up the post of Stores Manager at the Greenford Warehouse in 1964, and then Group Service Manager in 1966. Mr Ramsey was briefly Branch Manager, Gloucester Road, before becoming Operations Manager, Group C in 1969. He took over Group E in 1995.

Talking to The Gazette in 1996, Mr Ramsey said: “Initially there were only three operations managers with 10 branches each”, “Now I am responsible for 15 branches including the first Waitrose food & home at Southend”.

Mr Ramsey was eagerly anticipating the challenge of preparing Partners for their transfer to the new Waitrose South Harrow. “South Harrow will be the 22nd shop I’ve opened: it’s always exciting establishing a new branch, drawing on the experience of existing Partners, yet also making sure new Partners settle in and take advantage of all the things that make the Partnership so different”. “The fact that I’ve been a Central Councillor for more than 30 years, and am a Trustee of the Constitution and an elected Director of the Central Board means I am well placed to introduce them to the democratic side of the business too”.

Mr Ramsey retired from the Partnership in 1998. At his retirement party, Alistair McKay paid tribute to him and said that early in his career his “enthusiasm, clear thinking, resourcefulness and energy were noted and added that his involvement in the democratic side of the business had given him that “sense of fair play, character and common sense that has made him such a popular and successful Operations Manager”.