Meadvale Garage

A Memory of Reigate.

My father Stan Long started Meadvale Garage in the thirties, I'm not sure of the precise date.
When he purchased it, it was a derelict rat infested old builders yard and stables.
He and my mother "May" together with my uncles "Les" and "Eddie" both worked hard on getting rid of the rats, digging holes for the petrol tanks and pits.
Dad built it into a typical village garage, serving petrol, paraffin, used cars and repairs. Most of the local village businesses were his customers. There was Harriot's the butchers, the two brother Samuels, the green grocers, George Payne the sweet shop and newsagent, a bakers, a shoe shop Mr. Mrs King, the Old Oak pub Mr Herford (and later Ted Reeves), the post office Mrs Barden and later Mr Ilyffe, the wool shop Mrs Warren. Earlier there was a dairy run by Mr.  Mrs Hawkins (I think).
Peter Long

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