The genial mine host of one of Wales’s busiest shopping centres has just overseen his last hectic Christmas.
Alan Wallace, the Manager of Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre, is leaving just ahead of the January sales after 22 years in charge.
Alan, 66, Swansea born and bred, will have his last day in charge on Friday, December 30, and he will leave behind a host of good memories and many friends.
He joined as deputy manager in 1985 and took over from his predecessor, Ray Cole, in 1989 but his connection with Swansea’s retail trade goes back much further than that.
“My grandparents had a butcher’s stall in Swansea Market,” he said: “It was called Henry Hall’s and I used to work there as a youngster, stacking the trays and chopping things up.
“The Market adjoins the Quadrant Centre so I’m back where I began but I’ve really enjoyed my time here.
“I like people and I try to get on well with them and every day I try and get around and see as many people as I can and make sure everything is running as smoothly as possible.
“I’ve also got a great team here in service anfd security and my deputy, Ian Kirkpatrick, and administrator, Katie Ballard, give me fantastic support.”
Alan was born and brought up in Seaview Terrace where his dad had an allotment across the road: “Me and my mates built a den in the corner there. They were happy days and every now and then I drive back up there just to have a look at the place – it’s not changed very much.”
After leaving school he worked at a business making number plates and then went underground as a miner: “I trained at Caeduke in Gorseinon and then went to work at Brynlliw Colliery.
“I was 16 and worked with a man called Emlyn who made the step-in safety shelters along the tunnels.
“I enjoyed it but Emlyn never stopped telling me to leave the industry from day one. He was 63 and he’d worked down the mines all his life but I eventually took his advice and joined the Royal Navy.”
He spent 12 years in the Navy, mainly on aircraft carriers like HMS Victorious and Bulwark, as a radio and radar mechanic and spent several weeks at battle stations in the Far East when Indonesia’s President Sukarno indulged in a spot of sabre rattling and sednt motor torpedo boats buzzing round the big carrier.
The biggest ship Alan ever served on though wasn’t British but American, the flagship of the US Navy, the brand new nuclear-powered USS Enterprise where he spent five weeks on detachment with helicopters in the Indian Ocean.
“It was enormous,” he said: “We were the first British sailors to go on board and they were great to us.
“We couldn’t believe how big she wast. On Deck One they had restaurants and bowling alleys and film screens – even on the Victorious we only had a mess deck and a few slot machines.”
He left the sea and began work for Swansea City Council as a rent collector: “I saw the world with the Navy and I saw most of Swansea with the council,” he said.
“I enjoyed it but it took me ages to complete the rounds because I’d stop and chat to the tenants. A lot of them were old and lonely and they’d invite you in – I’d be drinking about a dozen cups of tea a day.
“Then my wife, Denise, saw the job of deputy manager at the Quadrant advertised and persuaded me to apply – I didn’t have a clue about retail but apparently I sailed through the interview and I’ve been here ever since.
“I had a good mentor in Ray Cole and when he retired I got the job and I’ve pretty much enjoyed it all ever since.
“There have been a few changes but there are still retailers here who were here when I started and there are a lot of friendly faces around.
“Swansea is like that. The people are warm and generous and the Quadrant is a pretty successful centre because it’s so well situated and has such a good range of shops.
“I reckon that 80 to 90 per cent of the people who go shopping in the city pass through the Quadrant and a lot of those who don’t intend to go shopping walk through as well to the bus station or car park and they look at the window displays and see things they like.
“I think the tenants recognise that and they’re generally pretty happy which makes my job easier but we never have units empty for long – if one leaves the space is soon filled.”
He is looking forward to retirement though, and spending more time with Denise at their home in Brynmill and having more time for a couple of his passions.
One is football and his beloved Swansea City: “I love football and rugby but football probably edges it and I’ve always supported the Swans and used to have a season ticket but with working every other Saturday I gave it up.
“I have great memories of when John Toshack took us up in the old First Division and players like Robbie James and Alan Curtis.
“More recently I remember Sam Hamman at Cardiff saying that Swansea people should go and support Cardiff because they were the only Welsh club with a hope of reaching the Premier League.
“I liked that, especially now we’re there and they’re not but they’ve done very well with Brendan Rogers as manager and I just hope they can have a few more seasons there.”
Alan also used to turn his hand to woodwork and metalwork: “I used to make miniature Welsh dressers and things like that and I enjoyed it. I’d give them as gifts and a lot of friends and family still have them on display which gives me pleasure.
“I’d like to have a little workshop again and be able to potter about a bit but it’ll still be nice to come down into Swansea and have a wander round and see the Quadrant as busy as ever.”
