12:21pm Sunday 4th July 2010
Turning 50 at the beginning of this month set me thinking about how Cockfield village has changed since I was a teenager in the 1970’s.
In 1976 I was 16 and had just left school (one of the happiest days of my life). It was the ‘long hot summer’ and all my friends and I had to do was laze around on the village green listening to the radio, I particularly remember Abba’s Dancing Queen and keeping cool with regular trips to Caroline’s Mam’s shop – ‘Stirks’ for pop and ice lollies.
One of the biggest changes is I think, the decline of the village shops. At that time there was twelve shops and three public houses and a workingmen’s club.
Ronnie Linsley’s at the top opposite the school. I can remember him well, he used to wear a white coat and you could buy floral gums, cherry lips and toffees in a green wrapper.
There was also Watson’s, which was next door to the Club but it may have closed by then.
The Workingmen’s Club, which would be reaching its peak of popularity at this time, was the place to go on a Thursday night for the disco. We were too young to get in, in 1976 so we used to stand up the side of the building and listen to the music.
The Chemist – Everybody must remember Jack Davis – he used to make up cough bottles and stomach bottles and had a cure for everything.
Walter Wilson’s (I used to work there with Kathleen Gamble after school and on a Saturday) for pocket money. I think I got 75p a week. Harold Armstrong who was the manager was a bit of a tartar to some people but was always very kind to us, mind you, we had to work for our fifteen shillings. One particular thing I remember about him is that he used to walk on his heels because he had bad bunions, it was quite comical really.
The Kings Head – Always a popular venue but I cannot remember who was the landlord? Can anyone else.
The Co-op where I spent a lot of happy times with Ann Roe whose Father Keith was the manager. The Fish and Chip Shop – Greasy Lil’s, Mr & Mrs Monroe ran it and I remember they had three children Pamela & Pauline were twins and Paul. Whatever happened to them I wonder?
Margaret Brown’s – Hairdressing Shop – My Aunty Mary used to help out there a bit washing hair.
Emily’s – She sold buttons, elastic, wool, slippers, Wellingtons, underwear, dresses, coats. I remember once being a model for her at a fashion show she’d arranged for a charity.
The Welcome Inn (Gammas) – Everyone must remember Flora and Tom Robinson who lived there. It was a real old fashioned establishment and we used to go in on a night and buy chocolate, Fry’s Chocolate Cream and Golden Cups or whatever goodies she had in stock. We also used to sit on the wall outside and when they had had enough of us all making a noise Flora would throw a bucket of water at us that usually made us move.
Stirk’s – Sold everything from potatoes to jewellery and Maureen and Les were always there. The Post Office – I can’t remember the name of the couple that ran it at that time but they were very nice and when they left I think they went to Bishop Auckland to live.
Teasdale’s – The local electrical contractor who sold electrical goods, televisions, irons, kettles, radios etc.
Mrs Wade’s – an old fashioned grocer’s shop selling everything from cooked meats to pegs.
The Paper Shop – Run at that time by John & Vera Heaviside.
The Queen’s Head – Once again, who the landlord was I don’t know.
HAPPY DAYS!
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/trade_directory/