Shopping centre hails good deeds and memories for 10th anniversary

The Grand Arcade has been celebrating a decade in business this month and in the run-up to the landmark day, the centre ran a campaign called 10 Good Deeds.

The campaign aimed to give back to the local community, with 10 staff members carrying out 10 acts of kindness for local causes including Wigan and Leigh Hospice and Age UK.

And to add to the campaign, the mall recalled a previous good deed it bestowed upon one lucky Wigan girl.

In 2007, shortly after opening, Grand Arcade hosted a family workshop which invited children to plant sunflower seeds into their very own plantpots.

They were asked to take their pots home, nurture the budding plants and watch them grow, before sending in pictures of their flowers to be in with the chance of winning a trip to Disneyland.

The lucky winner was 10-year-old Emily Fishwick, who managed to grow her sunflower taller than her own height!

Emily recently got back in touch with the arcade and reminisced about her hard-earned prize. “I couldn’t believe I had won!” she said. “I was only 10, and going to Disneyland was a dream for me. We had a lovely time and I’ll never forget it.”

John Sanson, who has been centre manager since its opening, said: “Stories like Emily’s are heartwarming and reflective. Grand Arcade likes to give something back to shoppers and say thank you by providing these competitions.

“What a different world retail and property finds itself in. The years have been challenging and interesting on a number of fronts. What shines through though, are the people.

“Wigan is such a friendly town. Thank you all, and here’s to the next 10 years and another changing landscape!”