My Parents...

A Memory of Croydon.

My parents operated a shop and a stall in Surrey Street from just after WW2 until my dad's untimely death in 1960. My mother kept the stall until 1962.
They sold yard-goods and drapery fabric but during Summer when ladies were out of the house more and not sewing as much they sold ladies cotton shift-dresses and in December when people were busy with the holidays they sold Xmas items, slippers and chocolate-covered cherries in gold cardboard boxes.

The photo shows a crowd on the left gathered around a stall operated by Charile Robery a 'patter' barrow-boy who sold many and varied items including kitchen-ware and toys, assisted by his wife and a couple of lads on the stall and a couple more who were crowd 'ringers'. He would 'shout the odds' and keep up a running dialog with the crowd to stimulate buying. His patter was humerous and mildly suggestive, sometimes ribald, to suit the crowd and occasion.

He'd gather-up a whole set of crockery in his arms and say..."This whole lot...just for today, not 3 pound, not 2 pound ten...not even 2 quid...eee-are, who'll give me thirty-nine and six' for the lot?
He also sold 'mystery' packages, a small sealed box or paper bag with something inside which the customer had to buy sight-unseen, usually a gift item which was good value for the money. At half a crown apiece he would 'knock-out' a few dozen on a good day.

My parents operated the stall right next to Charlie and they were good friends.. it's pictured elsewhere on this site.