Staff from the Bangor branch of Thomas Cook Travel Agents, that closed on Monday, have thanked local businesses and the public for their messages of support.
The Thomas Cook Group, including the UK tour operator and airline, ceased trading with immediate effect after a rescue plan collapsed at the last moment. The 178 year-old travel company, which served 22 million customers in 2018, had debts of around £1.25bn. Four staff from the Bangor branch will now lose their jobs.
Leah Flinn-Williams, who has worked at the Bangor branch of Thomas Cook for the last 16 years, said she was ‘heartbroken’ to have lost the job she loved, making people’s dreams come true.
Local businesses quickly rallied round with messages of support for the staff, including a note from the staff of the nearby Greggs Bakery on Bangor High Street, which was found on the door of the Thomas Cook shop.
The note read: “We’re so sorry about the sad news of the collapse of Thomas Cook.
“Our thoughts are with all your staff, really hope you find jobs as soon as possible.
“Not sure if any of you are going to be in today, if you are please pop in for a brekkie or a cake on us. Love all the team at Greggs.”
Leah said: “We found this lovely note on our hardest day on Monday, locking our Thomas Cook shop for the last time. It made a difficult day a little better.
“Pulcinella in Bangor have also offered us a free meal and bottle of Prosecco.
“We would like to thank everyone for the kind messages and support. Also how incredibly sorry we are to all of our customers, this is not the outcome we thought would happen.
“It was more than a job to us it was our passion and we are all heartbroken.”
