Happy days indeed Viv, that feeling of been given a responsibility and getting paid for it at that age was great, then going to buy something with your own money without having to ask your parents for it was special. At that age we all wanted to be grown up, now we're all grown up we want to be that age againHad a Saturday job at Boots the Chemist in High Street Erdington - near the 6 Ways end of the High Street (image below from Street view - think it was the building on the left).
Got the job by walking into the shop and asking for Saturday job. No CV required, no interview except a little chat with the Manager/ Pharmacist. Started on the makeup counter to the right as you entered the shop. Was later moved to the more ‘responsible’ job on what was in those days was called the ‘drugs’ counter. This was on the left as you entered the shop. The pharmacy itself where prescriptions were prepared was up a few steps to the rear.
Spent any downtime cleaning glass shelves with methylated spirit. Loved to be asked to top up the stock. Stockroom was upstairs. You’d go up to select the items needed - liked the overpowering smell of toiletries in the stockroom - then a ‘porter’ would carry the items downstairs to the shop for you. Porters were usually part-time firemen.
Pay was good - £1.50 for a Saturday. We got, I think, 17% discount on all items. Consequently I bought endless items of makeup and toiletries. Spent some of my pay in Chelsea Girl a little further down High St near 6 Ways - same side of the road. Or buying a single, EP or LP across the road at the Music Box. Leaving a little amount to go out with Saturday night. Happy days.
Viv.
Sat&Sundays for me when I was at Lea Village school between the age of 13-15 was to feed the pigs we reared .Someone had to give them their Breakfast & Evening meal and as treasurer it was part of the job even during school holidays
What's more impressive he was the treasurer at 13How cute , were they fully grown or young piggies?
My first "proper" job was as a paperboy at Shakespeares on the Coventry Road, Sheldon. There were different rates, Solihull round and Birmingham round depending upon which side of the Coventry Road your round was. Solihull wage was higher because on Fridays you delivered the Solihull Times as well as the usual Birmingham Mail.
From there I went on to a milk round working with my uncle but that was Saturday and Sunday mornings. I then had a job at Fine Fare at the Yew Tree as a shelf filler. Really enjoyed that and that was when I had my first "Employment Cards" with my first National Insurance number which of course I still retain today.
From there I worked at Solihull Ice Rink in the skate hire which was great and then a friend asked me to come and work for him and his Dad in the Bull Ring outdoor market. This turned into a full time job whilst I was awaiting my GCE results and from there I went on to pastures new.
What's more impressive he was the treasurer at 13
Had a Saturday job at Boots the Chemist in High Street Erdington - near the 6 Ways end of the High Street (image below from Street view - think it was the building on the left).
Got the job by walking into the shop and asking for Saturday job. No CV required, no interview except a little chat with the Manager/ Pharmacist. Started on the makeup counter to the right as you entered the shop. Was later moved to the more ‘responsible’ job on what was in those days was called the ‘drugs’ counter. This was on the left as you entered the shop. The pharmacy itself where prescriptions were prepared was up a few steps to the rear.
Spent any downtime cleaning glass shelves with methylated spirit. Loved to be asked to top up the stock. Stockroom was upstairs. You’d go up to select the items needed - liked the overpowering smell of toiletries in the stockroom - then a ‘porter’ would carry the items downstairs to the shop for you. Porters were usually part-time firemen.
Pay was good - £1.50 for a Saturday. We got, I think, 17% discount on all items. Consequently I bought endless items of makeup and toiletries. Spent some of my pay in Chelsea Girl a little further down High St near 6 Ways - same side of the road. Or buying a single, EP or LP across the road at the Music Box. Leaving a little amount to go out with Saturday night. Happy days.
Viv.
haha shrewd thinking that so what year would this have been and whereAde.There were28 of us in the pig club set in 7 groups so it was 4 on every day cleaning them out and boiling up the feed .Everyone bringing the left overs from their houses to help feed them.We all paid 3 old pence into the club funds ,I was chosen because I was good at maths(so the headmaster said)Every one turned up every day but I plumped for every sat so I could earn some money in the weeks of the school holiday picking on the farms .Shrewd eh at that age
I can imagine the "Neptune" lounge in the sixties, cocktails, champagne, ladies walking around with beehive hair do's and very long cigarette holdersIn 1968 I worked as a house porter at the Midland Hotel. I polished brass everywhere and vacuumed half a mile of corridor carpet (yes I actually paced it out one day). In addition to that I had to vacuum the downstairs Neptune Lounge and sweep the staff spiral staircase that ran from the lower level to the top floor. Happy Days...
I have no idea. My day started at 7:00am. I did often wonder at the types of people that spent their evenings there. During the summer I worked at the Midland full time. I enjoyed it as there were some good people there.I can imagine the "Neptune" lounge in the sixties, cocktails, champagne, ladies walking around with beehive hair do's and very long cigarette holders
Thanks morturnSuper photos ade. My mom also worked at Woollies, Erdington High Street, on the sweet counter. She was 14 when she started work.