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A Happy Group

A cheerful picture of Mary Coverdale, Betty Gorman and Betty Ditchburn at the counter of Dodd’s shop.  The shelves behind them are packed with stock.

Image courtesy and names courtesy of Mrs. Betty Gorman.

Behind the Counter

Dorothy, Betty and Jean pictured behind the counter in Dodd’s shop.  There’s a  1977 Silver Jubilee, souvenir tea towel behind them.  Was this the year that this photograph was taken?

Image and names courtesy of Mrs. Ditchburn.

Lest We Forget!

Now this is how we should remember!  The shop window of Leng’s the Hairdresser bedecked with reminders of The Great War. At a guess the young man has reason for remembering – he is wearing a group of medals on his left breast, denoting that he joined up before 1916.  It looks like he is also wearing a badge/medal on his right breast – where the ”unnofficial” medals go – could this be a SWB (Silver War Badge)? ”At the going down of the sun and in the morning – we will remember them!” (Last line of ”The Exhortation”)

Nivard Ovington has told us: “The correct term is the Silver War Badge. In the SWB register is a Harold C LENG 200812 a private in the 4th Yorkshire Regiment, SWB badge number 264748. Enlisted 23rd November 1914, discharged 9th November 1917 under Army order 265 (II) (i) (b) aged 22 (served overseas).

Many thanks to Nivard for that correction and update.

Loftus

A different view of Loftus this time, what was Dr Dunn’s house and the small parade of shops. Harrison’s next to the Doctors was the ironmonger’s, Bannister’s was the sweet shop, then came the infant school, with Zetland Terrace in the background. David Hore told us: “How I remember Dr Dunn & his surgery! His waiting room was a covered passageway leading from the main road. His partner was Dr Guy who was nicer than Dr. Dunn.” Norman Patton told us: “There was a long bench in the “waiting room” along which the waiting patients would slide towards the reception area. It was very highly polished! Dr Guy had served in WWII as a Colonel.” Ray Brown added: “David is quite correct about the waiting room of the surgery, what he has omitted is that in times of heavy surgeries a form was put outside the passage way for the extra patients – yes in the FRESH AIR, even in inclement weather – I don’t think anyone can say that the NHS goes that far these days.”

Image courtesy of the Pem Holliday Collection and personal reminiscences from David Hore, Norman Patton, Ray Brown and Sally King.

Zetland Road Loftus

The building to the left of the image with the wall and railings round it is now identified as Smithfield House, the house which was converted to make Dodd’s shop after they moved from the Market Place in 1911. 

Image courtesy of Keith Bowers and thanks to Eric Johnson for the update.

Zetland Road, Loftus

What would have been a good image of Zetland Road if age and sunlight hadn’t attacked the photographic emulsion. No tarmacadam on the road and the style of clothing suggests the turn of the 20th Century, but definitely pre-1911 when Smithfield House became Dodds shop.

Zetland Terrace

An earlier image of Zetland Road, Loftus Co-operative building is on the left side of the road in this view. Note the bushes and other vegetation in the front garden of Smithfield House below the Co-op, this would later be Dodds shop premises; this assists in dating as Dodds did not move to Smithfield House until 1911.

Duncan Place, Loftus

The first photograph I have seen of Duncan Place, it hasn’t changed much although the gates at yon end have gone now and I can’t see if the school was there on the left hand side, there is a wall there as there was when I went to school, so I will presume that the school was there.

Image courtesy of The Pem Holliday Collection.

High Street – Zetland Terrace

We used the title as given on the postcard; this is interesting considering it was produced by George Skilbeck, whose shop was only slightly further down the street. He would know the correct name of the street; we can see that Dodd’s shop has now moved from the Market Place.  Not sure of the date but the scene hasn’t changed much over the years; although today the shop is now shuttered/boarded-up.

Image courtesy of Eric Norton.

Legg Bros., Loftus

Looks like a carefully posed image (except for the young boy on the left hand side who has just managed to get into the photograph) of Legg Bros. This shop used  to occupy the premises of the present day Harrops Pharmacy. One side for ladies wear, the other side men’s and never the two shall meet. Mr Legg also used to travel around to the farms in the area to sell his wares.

Many thanks to Joan Jemson for the update.