Celebrating International Women’s Day at Trago

Blog March 7th, 2025 | By ross drew

The incredible women of Trago don’t just go above and beyond in their work here—they also achieve amazing things outside of it. Today, we’re shining a light on the women who not only help make Trago what it is but also inspire in so many other ways.

Angela Cornwall – A True Hero, In Every Sense (Liskeard)

Some heroes don’t wear capes - they wear a Trago uniform and carry the weight of their communities on their shoulders. Angela Cornwall is one of those people. By day, she’s a dedicated member of the Trago team. But outside of work, she’s a powerhouse of support for families navigating the challenges of ADHD and autism. Through her work as a holistic practitioner, she wears many hats - mental health support, podcasting, and content creation - and through all of these, she’s making a real difference in people’s lives. And if that wasn’t enough, Angela is a real-life lifesaver. When her daughter returned home unwell from a festival and suddenly went into cardiac arrest, Angela didn’t hesitate. With incredible strength and presence of mind, she performed CPR and saved her daughter’s life. Talk about heroic! She also designed a ‘passport to care’ to make sure clinicians have exactly the information they need to deal with a rare condition, such as Diamond Blackfam anaemia which Angela’s daughter has. Angela’s story is a testament to the extraordinary women working among us - juggling responsibilities, supporting others, and, in her case, quite literally being a lifesaver. Today, we celebrate Angela! See more

Sylvia Rowe – A Real Champion Of The Local Community (Newton Abbot)

For over 20 years, Sylvia Rowe has been at the heart of the Chudleigh community, making a lasting impact through her tireless volunteer work. A proud member of the Twinning Association, she’s helped raise money to send Chudleigh children to Normandy, France, and vice versa—always making sure they can experience the cultural exchange for free. The bond between Chudleigh and Troarn in the north of France, twinned since 1982, has been strengthened by her dedication to building connections across borders. But that’s just one part of Sylvia’s incredible community involvement. For 18 years, she’s been an active member of the Chudleigh Town Carnival, raising funds each year for local charities in need. She also takes time every year to dress the war memorial in Chudleigh, honouring her great uncle, who is commemorated there. Along with her friends, Sylvia knits poppies to decorate the memorial with, adding a personal touch that makes it all the more meaningful. When Sylvia isn’t making Chudleigh a better place, she’s working full-time at Trago, building her own bungalow, or raising chickens and pigs. It’s safe to say she’s a true hero in her community, and we’re lucky to have her as part of the Trago family. Today, we celebrate Sylvia!

Ellie Robertson – From Shop Floor to the Top, and Always Giving Back

Ellie Robertson didn’t just walk into the Trago family business - she was born into it! Growing up with Trago, Ellie worked her way up through the ranks, starting on the shop floor and now rocking the role of Group Business Developments Director. She’s a true Trago lifer, and if you ask anyone, she’s the secret ingredient that keeps everything running smoothly. But that’s not all Ellie does! She’s also got a heart of gold. Over the years, she’s rolled up her sleeves to help with home checks, transport runs, and animal rescue missions for charities like Cats Protection, Last Chance Hotel, and Clay County Cat Rescue. No challenge is too big (or too furry) for Ellie! And just when you thought she couldn’t possibly be more awesome, last year, Ellie took on an 80-foot abseil from Plymouth Citadel Walls, all in the name of charity. She raised funds for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, proving once again that bravery and big-heartedness run in her family. She didn’t stop there - back in 2016, Ellie also took the plunge and did a skydive at Perranporth Airfield for Cornwall Hospice Care! Talk about bravery and heart! Ellie’s a true Trago hero - always going above and beyond, whether it’s at work or in the community. Trago wouldn’t be the same without her. Ellie has also kindly volunteered for ECC PORTS ANGLING CLUB for the past 5 years. In this time she has saved the club an eye watering amount of money which has helped ensure it can carry on for several years to come. This in turn has helped at least 250 local anglers carry on with their hobby. She has just stepped down due to work commitments but we as a club are extremely grateful for what she’s done. Today, we celebrate Ellie!

Vicki Drummond – A Creative Force And A Heart Of Gold!

Vicki Drummond is the creative genius behind many of Trago Falmouth's wonderful window displays and the signs we all admire. But her talents go far beyond signwriting - Vicki is also an accomplished author and illustrator. After witnessing a crab trapped in a bucket on a beach, she wrote Little Crab, a book aimed at teaching children about how to rock pool respectfully. What’s even more impressive? She illustrated the book herself! You can find it online, at Falmouth Bookshop, or in the Maritime Museum.
Vicki’s artistic journey didn’t end there. She lived in Ibiza for a time, working as a skilled inker, and even turned animated characters into jewellery, which was sold around the world - including places like San Francisco and the Roald Dahl Museum. Vicki’s talents even led her to work with Disney!
After years of working for herself, Vicki decided it was time to work for someone else, and so she joined AgeUK as a carer for people with dementia. During her seven years there, she helped create a sensory garden and room, making a real impact on the lives of others. Eventually, Vicki found her way to Trago, where she’s been ever since, and where she’s continued to nurture her love for writing on the side. Her passion for Falmouth and the work she does shines through in everything she touches. Today, we celebrate Vicki! See more

Saira Franklin – From Radio Waves To Making Waves

Saira Franklin is a woman who wears many hats! After five years teaching babies and toddlers to swim with Water Babies, she enjoyed teaching families the importance of water safety and went on to start her own franchise of Mini First Aid, teaching life-saving first aid skills across Devon and Cornwall. She even created the Healthy Minds course, helping school kids with anxiety, resilience, bullying, self-esteem and all round mental ill health. But Saira’s career doesn’t stop there - she’s also a radio presenter! Starting with Hospital Radio Plymouth where she wanted to ‘give back’ to the staff of Derriford Hospital and be a friendly voice for the patients, she quickly moved on to local stations Pirate FM and BBC Radio Cornwall! From meeting amazing locals to covering major events like the Queen's passing, Saira's been at the heart of Cornwall's community. Now, as the “face of Trago,” Saira manages our social media and creates fun, quirky content every day. She still presents on Devon’s Radio Exe every Saturday morning, proving that you really can have it all! Today, we celebrate Saira!

Of course, these stories are just a snapshot of the incredible women who make Trago what it is. Whether they’re helping customers find the perfect bargain, keeping stock moving behind the scenes, or making sure every corner of the store runs smoothly, their contributions don’t go unnoticed.
So here’s to the women of Trago - today and every day. We might not sell capes, but if we did, we’d save the best ones for you!