Working at The Greengrocers
At the far end of this parade of shops stood Ledgers the greengrocers, which was owned and run by the Ledger family for many years. I worked there on Saturdays and holidays with their eldest son Jamie; he and I did a lot of growing up together over those years! Jim, Jamie's father, had a Ford Thames van with windows and bench seats, the forerunner of today's modern 'people carrier'. We would set off at some unearthly hour in the van to Spitalfields Market to collect fruit and veg for the day's business. Humping a 56lb bag of potatoes on each shoulder and lifting and carrying the wooden crates of goods were all part of what we just got on and did - no time for moaning! Then it was back to the shop to have everything set up for opening time, usually around 8.00 to 8.30. We were on our feet all day, serving the seemingly never ending queue of local ladies out doing their weekly shop. Everything was weighed out separately and the bill added up on a piece of paper - no calculators then! There was one lady I remember who we all diligently avoided as she ALWAYS queried our sums. In summer, there were seasonal soft fruits available and anything that was left on Saturday evening which wouldn't keep until Monday was given to us lads. Cycling home with punnets of strawberries and raspberries is perhaps one of my fondest memories! And the smell of beetroots being boiled out back in the gas fired Copper - don't get that in Tesco!
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RE: RE: Working at The Greengrocers
My paternal grandmother was a Ledger from that area. My father met my mother in Becontree Av. when he went to visit a Ledger cousin who lived next door. My mother's maiden name was Cocklin.
Comment from Bernie Fynn on Saturday, 7th April 2012.
RE: RE: Working at The Greengrocers
I remember this shop very well, the steps up to the shop was very ragged and steep for me as a child. I used to go in there with my nan who stood for ages chatting, you were served one at a time and I remember the potato bins on the left as you went in and the shelves with tins on them, the wooden floor and the dusty veg and potato smell. Mr Ledger was a nice man from what I can remember.
Comment from Rosalyn O'callaghan on Monday, 23rd April 2012.