Bosses at the Colliers Wood Savacentre have made it the season of ill-will for an engraver who is being evicted from his shop after he was too ill to come to work.

Norman Walmsley, 60, who has run Scribe Engravers at the Sainsbury-owned centre for eight years, contracted pneumonia following heart surgery at St Helier Hospital nine weeks ago.

He claims he was then forced to stay off work for another five weeks while he recuperated.

But on his return to work last week, Mr Walmsley received a letter telling him his tenancy was being terminated because of complaints that his shop had been empty for so long.

Mr Walmsley told the News he found the decision puzzling and distressing.

He said: "I felt really down and disappointed, I was just getting over the pneumonia and I was lucky to come out of it in one piece let alone find time to worry about this.

"It was not a nice Christmas present but there are far worse things going on in this world."

Mr Walmsley's problems began last year when he first went into St Helier for a cardiac operation. He suffered complications and had to return for further treatment this year.

The engraver added: "When I got back from my last operation the management had changed the locks and given the stock away to customers because they needed it.

"About four or five days later they said they would be giving me my notice to quit.

"Someone didn't want me in the store any more. They said there have been a lot of complaints about you not being there'.

"I did tell them I was going into hospital for an operation, there wasn't a lot I could do. I can't find engravers at the drop of a hat even if I had someone just to take money it would be a bit of a waste of time."

Mr Walmsley, of Edward Avenue in Morden, received another letter last Thursday telling him his unit must be cleared by January 17.

The letter ended: "We look forward to receiving your payment (of outstanding rent) in full by return and wish you good health and success in the future."

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said: "We are looking into the issue and investigating it further. There are a number of important issues to look at."

December 28, 2001 15:01