Working in Evesham Street
I remember Evesham Street in Redditch in the early sixties very well. I was 15, had just left school, and was working at Liptons the grocers which was about half way up on the left just past the department store. There was a small chapel just opposite and also other grocery stores: Farrands, George Masons, the Home & Colonial stores. The Kingfisher coffee bar was on the corner, half way down, and the Co-op stores were further up. There was a wonderful greasy spoon cafe at the top end on the right, Smokey Joes. I remember carnival days in September each year and the talent competitions held down by the old library ~ my sister Mary invariably won the singing contest! I never knew a town change quite so quickly or as dramatically as Redditch did back in the early 70's. I suppose that's progress but I do remember with fondness the town before the building of all the new estates: it was a nice town, a good town to grow up in. People knew each other and there seemed to be more of a community spirit. Now it seems a little souless.
Memories Links
Add a Memory for another place
Tips & Ideas
How has this scene changed?
Do you know who lived or worked here?
Why is this photo significant to you?
Particular points of interest - transport, architecture, fashions etc.
Comments
4 comments have been shared so far in response to the memory "Working in Evesham Street".
Why not get involved and post your comments using the comment form below.
Comments
RE: RE: Working in Evesham Street
I too grew up in Redditch, living in Millsbro Road, and leaving school in 1965 to start work as an apprentice carpenter with Harrison Bros in Oswald Street. The town was a great place in those days, a true country market town. Walk along any street in the town, and you were guaranteed to stop and talk on any given Saturday, so what might have been a hopeful quick shop, could end up a marathon! Both my parents' families lived and worked in the town. My one grandfather had Jacksons in Evesham Street, and my other grandfather was Accountant to the Enfield Motor Cycle Co, until the outbreak of WW2, when he moved to set up the companies underground munitions factory near Bath in Somerset. My father, before he joined the RAF, worked for Biggs the Fruiterers in Evesham Street, and on return to the town worked at the BSA factory in Studley Road, before completing his working life with Redditch New Town as an Assistant Surveyor. My mother was the principal secretary at Redditch College, and then moved to Bridley Moor as school secretary, and finally ended her working life at Pitcheroak Special Needs school in Batchley.
Comment from Roy Tonkiss on Monday, 8th August 2011.
RE: RE: Working in Evesham Street
My mother worked at the Maypole on Evesham Street, a grocers if I remember correctly, she used to make up butter with wooden 'pats', some of the larger ones having the imprint of a cow in a meadow on them. This was indicative of the bucolic market town atmosphere that pervaded Redditch in the 1950s, not the soul less mass of ring roads and estates it later became. After terminating my apprenticeship at High Duty Alloys I also worked for a while in Evesham Street, at a credit clothes firm owned by a Colin Cook (or Colin Crooke), it was above another shop near the Hungry Man pub.
Comment from Tommy Thomas on Saturday, 13th August 2011.
RE: RE: Working in Evesham Street
Yes, I remember the Maypole: it was on the corner of the small street which gave access to the rear entrance of Woolworths store. One of my memories of the grocery trade was lard-weighing on Mondays - my job was to cut 28lb. blocks of lard into 28 1lb. packets and I could soon guess the weight into a quarter of an ounce! And in September/October we would spend a few weeks pre-weighing all the things needed for making Christmas cakes and puddings: cherries, candied peel and dried fruits as well as brown sugar. I remember the Hungry Man though I don't think I ever went inside. And Smokey Joe's greasy spoon cafe a little further up the hill, remember that? My Dad worked at the HDA but that was a long time ago, the 1960s and 1970s. Yes, I have fond memories of Redditch back then: the much talked about New Town had yet to be built and it was a lovely market town. Now it's full of estates and roundabouts. I left in 1971 when I married and moved to Evesham but I go there frequently and often wonder if this time I will see someone from the old days but I never do. It's rather sad but that's life I suppose!
Comment from Sue Ford on Sunday, 14th August 2011.
RE: RE: Working in Evesham Street
Evesham Street, there used to be a milk bar just up from Huins on the opposite side, a friend of my mothe'rs, Ruby Pithers worked there, I can't see her but I remember the name, she gave me the odd free coffee when I was skint. It was my 'hidey' hole when playing truant from day release at the Technical School and I was always apprehensive that someone from High Duty Alloys would spot me. I was an apprentice there but was much more interested in music, bought my first instrument in Evesham Street. One day someone did spot me, "So you want to be a musician Bryan", said the Personel Officer, "Well I am going to make your dream come true". Within a month I was a full time musician, in the Army. National Service was waiting, but, no regrets.
Comment from Tommy Thomas on Wednesday, 2nd November 2011.