Anyone remember

Local History for Tyne & Wear
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memor
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Post by memor »

Of course WIGGS I knew there was a music shop down there.

I see GK Lee is now gone.
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Post by Sandy »

I had completely forgotten about Wiggs but can see it in my mind's eye. Did they have organs (you know what I mean) in rows, which you could sit at to try out? Or am I hallucinating?

Yeah, Memor...G K Lee has gone.....and offthe wall, you mentioned T & G Allen being the last great book shop...do you remember Phillips (I think), at the bottom of Fowler Street, father & daughter business, LOADS of books, new & secondhand, you could always get what you wanted there?
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Post by offthewall »

Sorry, I don't remember Phillips (except in name).
Your right about Wiggs...rows of organs(!), that must have been what made it look 'posh' as opposed to Savilles.

Here's a one to remember........When the old post office closed down, in the side street off King St where Argos is now......they turned the building (temporarily) into the White Elephant Shop...........Does anyone remember?
Bye, lad!! there were some bargains there!.........antiques, old books, furniture, paintings, great clothes for us who were into 'self-styling' in those days.
Anyone remember?.......god, I must be getting old!
:cry: #-o
=D> 8-[
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Post by Sandy »

Did you wear one of those red 'Sgt Pepper' sort of jackets (can't remember what we called them) or were you into Afghans?
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Post by memor »

Off the wall Yes I remember that white elephant shop. I was only about five.

There was this lovely piano and I remember playing

Chopins Polynesian Suite in A Major when the owner slammed the lid down on ny fingers.

He couldn't stand classical music.

Needless to say I never played again.
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Post by curly »

The Phillips shop referred to...............was it not the great tobacconist/bookshop at the bottom of Fowler Street, Oliver's?
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Post by offthewall »

Oh Sandy!!!!
I think you must have seen me before!!
I DID have one of those 'guards' jackets......and it was red. Got it from Shields Market in the days when 'most' of the stalls were second-hand kit. My favourites, though, were a 'taily' (or clawhammer) coat and a 'real fur' coat....as worn by Clapton on Bluesbreakers album sleeve.
At that time we used to wear 'loons', which was another term for what is now called flares.....and they were hipsters..............god...these kids nowadays think they have invented everything!!!!!
You are getting me wound up, here, I think.

Let's just pick up a penny whistle and....chill out...!!!

Aaaaaah, that's better.

=D> =D>
:shock:
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Post by Sandy »

Those jackets, I now remember their name.....I think they were called Regency jackets and you guys were really 'in' if you had one. And if you looked like Clapton, well you were made. Yes.....loons. Do you remember when they had to be satin?!? And laces for flies?!?

Curly, this shop at the bottom of Fowler Street......I'm digging deep in my memory.......it's possible there were two shops, a tobacconist and a book shop, next door to one another. Where was Swainston's tobacconists? I remember Mr Swainston, think he drove a Jag. And this bookshop, Phillips I think, my Dad will probably remember, (I can see the daughter in my mind's eye)....a tiny shop, dusty, higgledy-piggledy with books, and when I needed school books (which we couldn't afford 'new'), you could go in with your list and the whole lot could be bought second-hand for a fraction of the price. I think the old G K Lee was next door before it moved across the road. So we're talking on the right hand side, going down, just before the Criterion.

But memories can play tricks!!
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Post by curly »

Yes, we are talking about the right place Sandy, but maybe my old memory is playing tricks with me. Perhaps I'm going to need a little help.

I remember Olivers, perhaps Phillips was there as well, it's just so damned difficult to remember.

I also remember the best toy shops in Town, there are none that specialise now) Ripons in Charlotte Terrace, and Clarks in Frederick Street and Ocean Road.
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Post by Sandy »

Curly, I'm going to ask my Dad shortly. I'm sure he will clear it up. Mind you, he's 83 so if I'm having trouble, well..........

I remember Clarks in Ocean Road. I remember the name Ripons but where's Charlotte Terrace again? I don't have a S. Tyneside A to Z.

Binns had a great toy department in the basement. I remember on my 8th birthday, my Gran took me there for 'anything I wanted' and I got a fantastic nurse's outfit. Aaaaaah, I could weep.......
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Post by curly »

Charlotte Terrace is directly opposite the Town Hall
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Post by Sandy »

Yeeees, of course......Ripons. Really quite a large shop, the shopfront almost from the pub to Crossgate. I had forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder.
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Post by jimmywizz »

i spent many an hour in it when a small kid, but when you think that both rippons and binns are gone then there is not as much choice for kids now
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Post by Sandy »

I've spoken to my dad now and he remembers Phillips as a newspaper and magazines shop. Where did I get my old books memory from? Then next door was the tobacconists, Olivers, which also sold fantastic walking sticks he said.

He also reminded me of another tobacconist, Marrs, a shop on the corner of Mile End Road and Ocean Road, squeezed between the two halves of the Ship and Royal. He knew the owner, Fred Marr, and his brother Tommy. They were big wigs at Westoe Rugby Club. I remember the shop well, if only as a meeting point, hanging around outside waiting for friends. What's there now? Did the Ship and Royal absorb it?
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Post by memor »

I think ripons started at the bottom of Fowler Street. that day.

Then went to charlotte terrace.

I remember walking down there when I was Five with parents and being bought cowboy gun. Ahhh I remember it well.

I shot everybody that day
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Post by Big Nick »

What was the name of the sports shop that was directly opposite the Town Hall??

I remember meeting Geoff Capes on the opening day, nearly Shat myself at the size of him!! Think it got made into a Wine Bar after that.

Is the 1A Cafe still going?? Coronary on a plate!!
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Post by baldy.smith »

As memor says in the post above yours the shop was named Rippons on Charlotte Terrace, there was no other sports shop there in my time in Shields. See the posts "hot pies" on this board for info about the A1 cafe.
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Post by curly »

Sandy, I think that tha Virgin music/phone shop occupies the spot where Marrs was (next to Minchellas)
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Post by village cat »

Big Nick wrote:What was the name of the sports shop that was directly opposite the Town Hall??

I remember meeting Geoff Capes on the opening day, nearly Shat myself at the size of him!! Think it got made into a Wine Bar after that.

Is the 1A Cafe still going?? Coronary on a plate!!
It was Rippon's ,Nick, then changed its name to Champs.
I got my first complete football strip at Rippons-England it was. It was my 10th birthday and it sticks in my mind that the whole strip was £10. How things have changed eh ?
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Post by Sandy »

Curly, the shop that was Marrs was RIGHT on the corner of Ocean Road and Mile End Road with the Ship & Royal on either side of it. So it had a side window in Ocean Road and another in Mile End Road with the door bang in the middle on the corner. That's my memory anyway!! Next time I'm up I'll have a look. I can't think there's still a shop there and I'm thinking the pub would have absorbed it.

Will you be around there soon? You could take a look for me and then I'll be able to sleep at night!!
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