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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Berkshire => Topic started by: kismet on Thursday 25 March 10 13:29 GMT (UK)
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Is there anyone out there who might remember a shoe shop in Broad Street in Reading or could tell me what number Broad Street it might have been.
My grandfather, Ted Parker, owned or ran a small shoe shop situated in between Marks and Spencer and the arcade which ran between Broad Street and Friar Street (opposite Wellsteeds) up until probably the 1950s. It had a rocking horse in the back of the shop and a foot x-ray machine towards the front.
I remember it as True Form shoes, but that was after my grandfather's time.
Kismet
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I think I remember there being a branch of Freeman Hardy Willis in that stretch of Broad Street in the late 1960's/early 1970's. Nowadays there is a shoe shop on the corner of Broad Street and Queen Victoria Street - was it a corner shop?
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If I remember correctly Kelly's directory in the 1950s listed premises in street order as well as surname order of occupants. A telephone directory of the period might also help.
David
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I think Freeman Hardy Willis was the other side of the road - the Wellsteeds side.
I don't know what my grandfather called it, but a just pre-war Kellys would be very useful. The only thing I have is the attached pre-war photo. I have tried old phone books without success.
Kismet
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Hi there, have you tried the Reading Museum? They have been running a big social history project for a few years now and have a large archive of personal accounts from a lot of residents. You might find what you are looking for there.
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Looking at their catalogue Reading Library holds in its local studies reference section copies of Kelly's directory for 1929, 1933, 1934, 1937 and others post war.
David
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Hi Kismet
Reading Library has a publication which lists Marks and Spencers Nos 12 to 16. True Form Boot Company No 11. George Francis (gentlemen's outfitters) at Nos 9-10. The Kay Shoe Shop at Nos 114-115.
Regards
em
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Thank you all for all your help - it was at 11 Broad Street.
Kismet
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Just come across this post. I used to have a Saturday job at Milwards in Broad Street many moons ago.
They had a large rocking horse in the store as well as an "x-ray" machine for looking at the internal fit of the shoe.
They had both even when I was a kid being fitted out for my Clarks crepe sole sandles and they were both still there in the
early 60's.
Regards
Ian Clingan
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I remember Milwards, but I thought it was a department store further towards the Oxford Road - opposite the entrance to the now Butts Shopping Centre. Although, thinking about it now, I do believe their shoe shop was separate, but I don't remember where it was sited. I wonder if all shoe shops had rocking horses and foot x-ray machines?
I remember Clarks crepe soled sandals too!!
Although born there, I left Reading in 1962 and now live too far away for an easy trip there to look for myself.
Thanks for the memories Ian.
Kismet
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Hi Kismet,
Milwards an all shoe shop. Ankle snappers upstairs when I worked there and adults downstairs.
Even as an ankle snapper myself recall rocking horse near a window overlooking Broad street and machine towards
back of upper floor.
Like you I escaped from Reading but not until 1966 ;D
Ian
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Hi Ian
I like the "escaped" - that was how I felt at the time. Did you go to school in Reading?
Kismet
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Hi Kismet,
In answer to your question, yes. Geoffrey Fields Infant and Primary Schools and then Ashmead, both Secondary and Junior School Of Building, so gives you the area I was living in :D
Joined the RAF Police, travelled the world and now live in the Highlands ;D
Ian
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Hi Ian
I went to Redlands Primary, The Grove Primary, Emmer Green Primary, Wilson Secondary and finally Westwood Grammar. I then did a years sec course at Reading Tech.
I didn't quite travel the world, but I did live in Jersey for 20 years. Now in Norfolk.
Kismet
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Just come across this post. I used to have a Saturday job at Milwards in Broad Street many moons ago.
They had a large rocking horse in the store as well as an "x-ray" machine for looking at the internal fit of the shoe.
They had both even when I was a kid being fitted out for my Clarks crepe sole sandles and they were both still there in the
early 60's.
Regards
Ian Clingan
I remember the large rocking horse and xray machine from my childhood, you used to have to take a number and wait to be seen rather than just find an assistant.
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Kismet, was the department store you're thinking of McIlroys? That was on the block opposite what was the Butts Centre but is now more attractively named Broad Street Mall. McIlroys later became the Co-Op and nowadays most of that block is Primark.
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And the assistant, including me, had to put money and invoice (hand written in duplicate) into a tube, have it sent by air to the accounts office and have it fired back in the same manner with stamped invoice and any change owing. Technology :D
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They've still got the air tube at Jacksons down on the corner of Kings Road and Market Place. All you ex-Reading folks would recognise Jacksons no problem - unchanged since I came to Reading in the mid 60s.
Anne
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Remember Jackson's well, mother used to work there on wool counter. Wonder how it survived all these years?
Ian
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I think it's still a family business, and they must own the premises so no rent to pay. Most of the staff seem to be of retirement age at least, not sure how much longer it can go on.
Anne
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If this is Kismet, I think I can help you with the Bernie Kaai Lewis. Bernie was my biological Father, my name is Leona, I have a brother named David, and my grandparents were named Finkelman. I was a Finkelman myself, until my step dad adopted me.
My real Father, Bernie, died in 1984 of a massive heart attack. If this helps, email me at lee.golithon@clorox.com. Was your late mothe's name Shirley, by any chance, and is your name Sandy?
Let me know as I've been trying to determine how to find my step sister for ages, and you may be her.
lee.golithon@clorox.com
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Hi, saw your post re naturalisation. Would you kindly tell me how one gets naturalisation papers please? Many thanks.
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I worked at the Milwards Broad Street Reading store from '68 to '70 and then at the Maidenhead one till late '72. Also did a lot of relief management at various branches. I've got lots of staff photographs which i'd love to share with the people in them.
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I have happy memories of working in Milwards, Broad Street Reading, in the 1980s. The Lamson tube system for sending cash and duplicate dockets to the cash office was still in use. The manager was David Sleet and the manager of the men's department Ted Emmett. Happy times.