SO Molly Dolly was not just a figament of Denis Coates' imagination. Following Molly's appearance in Wednesday's Echo Memories (and, of course, earlier on this blog), Nellie Garbutt has been in touch. She says:
"I recall a 'Molly Dolly' from my pre-war childhood in Cumberland Street, Darlington. She used to visit the street once a week and my mother would often give her a cup of tea and a cake. Although her clothing generally matched the description given by Mr Coates, I don't recall her wearing a white apron. Also, I believe she had an old pram rather than a cart. However, I do remember her always smoking a pipe of dried tea leaves."
Dried tea leaves! What kind of kick could you get out of those?
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