Miss Pemberton was a middle-aged spinster who worked as an assistant at Swindley's Emporium until July 1961. Miss Pemberton had lusted after Leonard Swindley since 1924, but kept her feelings a secret and contented herself with her yearly gifts of hankerchiefs for Christmas and artificial flowers for her birthdays.
Miss Pemberton's nose was put out of joint when Swindley let Emily Nugent move into his shop as the lease on her baby shop had expired. She initially resigned as she couldn't stand working with baby linen, but walked out when Swindley and Emily seemed to get along too well. Stunning Swindley and Miss Nugent, she explained her love, told Emily she didn't have a chance, and left the shop for the final time.