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VIDEO: Darwen supermarket worker is top of the shops!

10:37am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in Darwen Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye, Reporter

'SINGING LADY': Krissie blasts out a hit 'SINGING LADY': Krissie blasts out a hit

A CHECKOUT supervisor has become known as the Singing Lady of Darwen for warbling while she works.

Krissie Atkin, 46, regularly belts out versions of Abba and show tunes down the aisles of Sainsbury’s in Redearth Road, Darwen, where she has worked for 11 years.

Now customers have set up the Singing Lady of Darwen Sainsbury’s Appreciation Society.

On the social networking site Facebook they have started a group with a video and photographs of Krissie in the act.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found out that a customer had set it up for me.

“I’m not very good on the internet, so my daughter has had to show me.

“I’ve always sung. I can’t sing very well, but I enjoy doing it.”

Krissie has even sung Dancing Queen live on local radio after listeners called in about meeting her in the store.

She said: “After I did that, I heard that one man was complaining about me, which is I think is awful.

“It’s hurtful because I do have feelings, and most people seem to enjoy it. I like putting a smile on people’s faces.

“A lot of them say that I must really love my job!”

Krissie, of Alpha Street, Darwen, manages to remain so upbeat despite having to cope with the murder of her son-in-law.

Her daughter Joanne Cetinkaya, 24, who also works in Sainsbury’s, had only married Turkish furniture-maker Hakan two weeks before he was in October 2008.

Krissie said: “I have had my moments with what has happened to Joanne, and I have been very upset for her.

“But I am a very happy and positive person generally, and I believe that you have to carry on with things.

“Joanne says I make her laugh with the singing but she’s never done a duet with me down the aisles. I think I embarrass her a bit!”

Comments(37)

Ian the Beancounter says...
11:36am Tue 16 Mar 10

Oh dear! Krissie is one of the main reasons I don't go to Sainsbury's as often as I did. Her singing is cringeworthy! Never mind, at least she can be happy in the knowledge that her "singing" drove us to shop online - from Tesco!

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hasnutts says...
12:00pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Her singing is dreadful, annoying, and unprofessional.

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kimfarley says...
12:14pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Krissie your an absolute star!!! Keep it up!

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GP says...
12:26pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Krissie is an absolute legend!! I love it when she's around when I'm doing my weekly shop - not only because of the singing but because she provides GREAT customer service :D

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littlejobby says...
12:54pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Lovely girl but why does she think she can sing she's so bloody annoying

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Bat E Bird says...
12:57pm Tue 16 Mar 10

She may not be the best singer but she certainly makes a change from the sulky, miserable little gits who generally work in supermarkets these days.

She makes me laugh so I hope she keeps it up.

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alex38hh says...
1:13pm Tue 16 Mar 10

As creator of the facebook 'Singing Lady of Sainsburys Darwen' along with my friend Jo, we personally find that she lightens up the drudgery of food shopping. It's nice to see someone so happy in their work and anyone who finds it offensive or as 1 comment states 'unprofessional' needs to get a life and think that there are far more things to get bothered about, like losing your son-in-law in a knife attack perhaps!!! Krissie doesn't profess to be a good singer and is merely making her workplace a better place to be!

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alex38hh says...
1:16pm Tue 16 Mar 10

btw, 235 members of the fan site on facebook can't be wrong!

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Bat E Bird says...
1:25pm Tue 16 Mar 10

236 now :)

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GcCr says...
2:15pm Tue 16 Mar 10

I think Krissie is great, like GP said it's not just her happy singing but her great customer service too. It is refreshing to have a change from the shop assistants who are too busy talking to each other about what they got up to last night to actually use any manners!
I think the people who are moaning about her singing should get a grip and take it for what it is, a bit of fun!
Keep it up Krissie!

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Darrens Delivery Service says...
2:58pm Tue 16 Mar 10

I have just rang my good friend Simon Cowell, and he is going to have a listen to it. Honest. All the best, and keep up the good work.

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sueym says...
3:54pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Krissie is a legend!! Has had some sad times, but is now back out there singing and smiling. Krissie, 20 years ago managed to attract a crowd of around 100 in Tenerife with her 'singing' - she's never said she's a great singer! But she just has a tune for every sentence and she's harmles!! I say carry on Krissie, you bring a smile to everyone's face!! People who don't find your tunes amusing need to get a grip and take it for the fun it is!!!! 235 members and going strong!

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porterman says...
3:55pm Tue 16 Mar 10

blimey dont give up your day job then again wish you would.

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Andy_atkin93 says...
4:21pm Tue 16 Mar 10

eee eckk mum!!! you might not be the greatest singer as i say, but you sure know how to put a smile on everybody elses face. Then you get all the sad people with NO sense of humour. I couldn't stop laughing though at the video. Mum your a true legend. x

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Peaxx says...
4:29pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Thats not a smile of enjoyment though is it!? Most people just smile out of politeness Id say!!

Someone teach her the lyrics (possibly not made up ones)!!

Good on her if she wants to sing her heart out but do you not think it should be somewhere else where other people cant hear her?! And as for people who like it - Go to a karaoke to listen to someone sing!

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happycyclist says...
4:30pm Tue 16 Mar 10

She's not funny, she's just an annoying divvy. If I want to hear that sort of racket, I'll go to the Crown next door and listen to the karaoke. Let us shop in peace for God's sake rather than have that inflicted on us.

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CapitaBackHander says...
4:54pm Tue 16 Mar 10

happycyclist wrote:
She's not funny, she's just an annoying divvy. If I want to hear that sort of racket, I'll go to the Crown next door and listen to the karaoke. Let us shop in peace for God's sake rather than have that inflicted on us.
BUT you are a manic depressive!

Her singing is not to my taste BUT I hardly find it annoying.
To say it is unprofessional just shows what is wrong with people.
She is always approachable and I can see the other staff are actually happier working while she is around.
If you want depressed USELESS staff then go to ASDA Blackburn and speak to the two blonde woman on customer service - they should not have to face customers as they are clueless wrongly programmed robots.

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hasnutts says...
5:28pm Tue 16 Mar 10

she's just an attention seeker who gets on peoples nerves with her embarassing tone deaf noise. Shoppers have a right to shop in peace.

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happycyclist says...
5:36pm Tue 16 Mar 10

CapitaBackHander wrote:
happycyclist wrote:
She's not funny, she's just an annoying divvy. If I want to hear that sort of racket, I'll go to the Crown next door and listen to the karaoke. Let us shop in peace for God's sake rather than have that inflicted on us.
BUT you are a manic depressive!

Her singing is not to my taste BUT I hardly find it annoying.
To say it is unprofessional just shows what is wrong with people.
She is always approachable and I can see the other staff are actually happier working while she is around.
If you want depressed USELESS staff then go to ASDA Blackburn and speak to the two blonde woman on customer service - they should not have to face customers as they are clueless wrongly programmed robots.
What's my manic depression got to do with owt?

When the Telegrah come and do an article about me then is the time to comment on that. Stick to the story, Crapita.
Erm, and I wasn't the one who said it was unprofessional. I happen to think it is, but it seems a bit odd to attack me for saying when I didn't.
And where did I say I prefer to be served by useless staff? I didn't.
The staff at Darwen Sainsbury's are friendly, helpful and competent and I'm perfectly happy with the service there. But Krissie sticks out like a sore thumb.

I don't think staff do look happier with her around. I've never had cause to ask her for help but If I did want help I'd probably ask someone else because people who are bouncy-happy 24/7 tend to unnerve me and bore me senseless.

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Phyllis says...
6:38pm Tue 16 Mar 10

To all the 'neggies' above:

IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.

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PAULP1999 says...
6:52pm Tue 16 Mar 10

She may not be the best singer in the world but it's nice to see someone happy in their work. She does brighten the place up.

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happycyclist says...
6:58pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Phyllis wrote:
To all the 'neggies' above:

IF YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
Why?

I doubt Krissie is so insecure that she can't take a bit of criticsm. She's put up and some have told her to shut up.
Others have said they like it and that's their opinion. Why should the 'neggies' be gagged?

Phyllis, are you someone else who only believes in freedom of speech if you agree with what's being said?

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bm1988 says...
7:15pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Well I used to work in Sainsbury's when I was 16 and I only really ever enjoyed working there when Krissy was in! Trust me, she does make the staff happier and is loved by all of them. She has never claimed to be a good singer; she's just a happy person and will more than likely not even pay attention to all of these negative comments!
Love you Krissy... keep singin'! xxx

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ste.g says...
8:42pm Tue 16 Mar 10

sounds to me she is one slice short of a loaf.she best get to bread counter and fast.

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mrs wizzit says...
9:13pm Tue 16 Mar 10

WHERE WOULD WE ALL BE WITHOUT MUSIC AND SONG?

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harry_gill says...
9:31pm Tue 16 Mar 10

big h
formerly Darren now Durham, if your singing Krissie wants a change of venue she's welcome to serenade me at my local Sainsbury's which is at Washington there's nowt wrong with fun folk, next time i'm back home i'll pop into the Redearth rd branch and give her a round of applause, just hope she's on duty on that day, make em' have it girl, just playing the clip has cheered me up.

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Excluded says...
9:33pm Tue 16 Mar 10

I'm not that bothered by Krissie's singing one way or another. There are far more important things in life to worry about.

She seems to enjoy it, it clearly brightens some people's lives and I'm really struggling to see how it hurts anyone.

It's a spark of individuality in a world where companies increasingly expect their staff to behave like corporate clones.

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Darrens Delivery Service says...
9:51pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Right, He has just rang me back, he said it is well funny, but not good enough for X Factor, sorry.

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Mr President says...
11:02pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Excluded is correct (for once). We all hamper after the personal touch and bemoan the fact the supermarkets have taken away the 'Arkwright' personality from our shopkeepers. I applaud Krissie and Sainsbury's for bringing a little personality to shopping, I know I always try to add a little to my working day.

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petew27 says...
11:04pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Thank god we dont shop at sainsburys we was thinking about going there but now i have read this i dont think we will bother

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MerlinTheVoiceofReason says...
1:34pm Wed 17 Mar 10

Good on her! Long may she continue.

It's no surprise that the "negs" have come out in force, the professional moaners, the killjoys, the miseries who ruin Darwen!!

There's a woman in ASDA Bury (town centre branch) who is a cross between Jane McDonald and a bingo caller who promotes offers on the microphone - sometimes a tad annoying but mainly brightens up the day.

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pocketdragon says...
7:24pm Wed 17 Mar 10

each to their own i say! if the lady wants to sing then let her. I can find more annoying people in this borough...could be worse, could have diana vickers working in co-op...say no more!!!

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GP says...
10:52am Thu 18 Mar 10

pocketdragon wrote:
each to their own i say! if the lady wants to sing then let her. I can find more annoying people in this borough...could be worse, could have diana vickers working in co-op...say no more!!!
Nah... she worked in M&S ;)

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daviedoo says...
3:52pm Thu 18 Mar 10

What an annoying woman I musa, I agree withIan the Beancounter. Tesco all the way. My ears will not bleed then!!!!

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bm1988 says...
3:57pm Thu 18 Mar 10

daviedoo wrote:
What an annoying woman I musa, I agree withIan the Beancounter. Tesco all the way. My ears will not bleed then!!!!
So mean...

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alison coupe says...
11:46am Fri 19 Mar 10

Krissie

Some people need to get a grip!!! Those that dont like your singing are completely miserable soles that I feel sorry for. Life is for enjoying and thats what you do so you carry on. You put smiles on peoples faces when they are doing the most boring job...food shopping!! So all you miseries get a life!!!!!!

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theavenger2008 says...
8:30pm Fri 19 Mar 10

one cupcake short of a picnic basket.

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