With the last trace of Clements to leave Watford next week, we asked for your memories of the famous shopping store and you delivered. We've picked out as many as we can for you to read and reminisce.

Lisa Purvis So sad such an iconic store will just be a memory to the many who worked there and to the thousands who passed through the doors. Remember going as a child. I loved the toy department. I’ve still got my dog on wheels that I got for Christmas when I was two 48 years ago. 

Ben Wilkinson Got my school uniform from there. I remember being told that the department store in “Are You Being Served” was based on it.

Barry Giffin I remember at Christmas time they had a colouring competition in the toy department. I used to love colouring in the various Christmas themed drawings.

Samantha Heilling I remember the floor walker and being told as a child that the Clements floor walker was who inspired Mr Peacock in Are You Being Served?

I also remember my excitement and pride going to the uniform department in the eaves of the store to buy my senior school uniform. It cost over £100. I can also remember my mum wanting things in the blue cross sale, and my dad going in early to try to get them .

Pauline Spencer Got my wedding dress and 3 bridesmaid dresses in the sale there back in 1989

Mark Hockey This shop is and will always be a part of my memory. A childhood that made the Christmas celebration the best above all. Thank you Clements...with me forever!

Wendy Porter I remember the toy department the best with the Lego competition, I have a certificate too. Loved the corridors that linked different parts of the building. It felt like secret rooms that you couldn’t always find. Had my ears pierced at age 13 here and bought a bridesmaid dress. Great store, sad it’s gone.

Craig Tribe Fond memories of creaky wooden floors and the car lift. My Grandad worked in the gardening department for a number of years in the 70s and was sometimes recruited to be ‘Father Christmas’ in the grotto. I was taken to see him on a few occasions and didn’t find out until years later who it really was!

Tony Cousins Top floor at Christmas was a wonderland for many kids in the late 70's and early 80's. I remember watching the giant train set for ages.

David Scotland I had a Saturday job there as a teenager and loved every minute. I usually worked downstairs in hardware. Being a Watford fan I couldn’t make the games but Miss Philpot in HR kindly gave me the day off to go to the FA Cup semi final in 1984 - we won!

Not wishing to push my luck, I didn’t ask to have the Saturday off for the Cup Final and so turned up for work as usual that day. When I arrived at her office to be allocated my department for the day she asked me why I didn’t ask her for the day off. I explained that I didn’t feel comfortable asking her for another Saturday off and that my Cup Final was the previous game at Villa Park. She smiled and thanked me before asking me to work in menswear for the day.

I was surprised as I’d never been asked to work there before but made my way from her office as instructed. When I arrived I realised why she’d sent me...the whole department was decked out in Watford colours and a great big TV was there for (non-existent) customers - and me - to watch the game!

Her kindness typified the Clements family spirit and I’ll always have very fond memories of my time there.

Andrea Howard I worked in the hair salon from 91-98. The store was full of characters, used to get all the Calvin Klein perfumes on the day of release. Had a beautiful pair of curtains made for my first flat and remember getting a great discount. Sad it’s not there anymore.

Linda Puddifoot I loved Clements, several floors of goodies, the top floor with the toy department, a basement with everything you would need to decorate your house, the haberdashery department, there was even a wedding dress section, and the cafe was a good place to get a decent cuppa.

Pat Trodd I worked in the hairdressers in the 70s with Mrs Dove ruling over us. I met some fab people and had a lot of fun many happy memories.

Alison Brookes My mum worked on the switchboard there for years and taught me and my friend how to operate it. I had a Saturday job on the linen counter when I was about 15. I remember Blue cross Day. We were overwhelmed by customers. There was a lift at the front of the building and I 'Are You Being Served?' was based on this store.

Richard Edmonds owned it and he threw a garden party for his staff at his home one summer. He had a little pool and I did a couple of lengths in it. Nobody else joined me! He had gazebos and marquees and provided food including strawberries. Nice man. Happy days.

Jan Wright My mum, Doris Wright, worked there for several years. I used to love shopping there, especially at sale time. Clements always had great sales. I remember the man who was dressed very smartly and with a flower in his buttonhole. He used to stand at the door and greet customers as they came in!

David Harper It was my first full time job and one of the best jobs I've ever had . I worked in the display department for many years doing in store displays, eye catching window displays, wedding shows and at Christmas the Santa's. We all had such fun and laughs and it was like a big family.

Blue Cross sales were like nothing else. Great Memories and made some life long friends.Was there until the very end which was such a sad time for everyone.

Sara White I always bought school uniform there. My friends and I would go in to try on the flowery and unusual swimming hats for a laugh!

Dave Daniels I worked there when I left school in 1957, in the soft furnishings selling mainly curtain material. We wore dark suits white shirts and ties. My starting wage was £3.50 a week. But I enjoyed working there.

Christine Wheeler I used to love Clements, it was one of those stores you could buy anything in. I bought my wedding dress there many moons ago. As a kid used to go and have a squirt of the expensive perfumes.

Julie Gibson I was practically raised in Clements, my mum and auntie loved it. On special occasions we would eat in the fancy restaurant with the model as she would wonder around showing the latest fashion. So many bargains from the Blue Cross sale and my beautiful wedding dress from the bridal section. Best shop ever.

Carol Syms My Mum and I used to get there early to queue on the Saturday morning for the sales. Remember the rush for towels. I remember the two floor walkers. Very smart with flowers in their button holes. Basement used to have a lovely glass and china department.

One of the lifts in the front of the store used to take you to the school uniform department for Watford Boys’ Grammar School. There used to be a small public toilet in one part with a good view from the window over the top of Watford. Had quite a feeling of old world character charm. Czarina was the name of their own clothing. 

Gerry Draper Used to buy knitting wool and patterns to knit for my new baby in 1974. They had a great selection. Always bought carpets there too. Can’t remember if they did dress materials too? I used to do quite a lot of dressmaking too but then we had C&H just down the road. Clements service was always good. So sad it’s going for good.

Tracey Wills I remember as a child I used to go every week with my mum and dad and have tea served by waitresses in the restaurant upstairs and they had a wonderful toy department with Santa down in the basement. A lovely Easter display was always put on upstairs too, such wonderful childhood memories.

Hayley White Playing hide and seek in the carpet department with my nan and grandad. And then going to the restaurant and having tea and toasted tea cakes and I would always have a cottage cheese salad every Saturday for god knows how many years. I was known by the staff as the little cottage cheese girl.

Angela Bodell Clements Blue Cross sale gave the London stores a run for their money. Well dressed women fighting over items. I liked the roof top car park you accessed by the car lift - only place I have ever been in one.

Vivienne O'Brien Clements was a major part of the High Street for many years. I was a child in the sixties and visited often with my parents. I bought my wedding dress from there in 1984 and I still have it. In due course I brought my children and they loved the toy department, especially the train. I'm so sorry the time has come to leave forever, good luck with whatever you do next.

Peter O'Neill As a child in the late 70s early 80s, Clements was the best place to buy Lego. It was so exciting to see all the latest sets stacked up in boxes on the basement sales floor. I remember drooling over them while hearing the periodic burst of chicken sounds from a machine that dispensed toys in a egg shaped capsule.

Years later I bought a sofa-bed from the furniture department in that same basement, and I’m sitting on it right now. I also remember the black and white tiles in the floor by the glass doors. No visit to Watford was complete without a visit to Clements.