Comet: 'A bit of Hull history has died'

COMET'S Business Centre has closed its doors for the final time.

As the remaining staff left their jobs, it was described as "a bit of history for Hull that has died."

There were tears as the 18 employees at the George Street centre left, some having worked at the company there for their entire career.

Paul Anderson, finance manager at Comet, has worked for the business for 37 years.

He said: "Everyone is extremely sad about today. It is the end for Comet after almost 80 years.

"We are the last 18 people in the building and it is a bit of history for Hull that has died."

The centre had been kept open and a number of core staff had been retained to provide support as the company was wound down.

Mr Anderson said there were about 250 to 300 people at the centre before the redundancies began.

He said: "It is a sad day for everybody involved in Comet but I don't think we will find anyone here who has not had a good time.

"Comet was born in Hull and has finished in Hull but not the way we would have liked.

"It has been a tough morning and a tough three months."

Mr Anderson said that he now hopes Business Secretary Vince Cable, who is leading an investigation into the demise of Comet, provides the workers with the information they want about how it all came to an end.

Staff said there was a "real mixture" of emotions, with many of them having worked their way up through the company.

Rebecca Atkin had been at Comet for the past seven years.

She said: "The past three months have been difficult and we have been dreading this day but there is also a sense of relief that it has ended, as there has been so much uncertainty."

Tomorrow would have marked Michele Dray's 32nd anniversary at Comet.

She said: "It is all I have ever known. I can't imagine waking up tomorrow and not having this job."

The electrical chain went into administration in November and the stores closed last month.

Jo Sanderson worked at the business for 26 years.

She said: "It is a very sad day for all of us."

"Over the past three months, there have been ups and downs and it has been very demanding.

"People are wishing us good luck though and there has been huge support for us."

Some of the workers have found alternative work but for many, the job hunt is still under way.

Carol Solway has worked at Comet for 27 years and her husband and two daughters have also been made redundant from Comet.

She said: "There are four people in my family who have lost their jobs at Comet and only one of us has found another job.

"We have all enjoyed working for Comet but it is now a scary time."

The staff have donated office furniture and stationary to local schools.

Administrator Deloitte has set up a dedicated website – www.cometjobs.co.uk – and through this, more than 50 potential employers are advertising new positions.

A Deloitte spokesman said: "The joint administrators thank the staff for their professionalism and support during what has been a difficult period for them."