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Woolworths Memories

R

Rod

Guest
Woolies was a favorite shop for most young lads, they sold a complete range of small Airfix Kits which used to cost around 1/6, or 7.5 new pence..... a fair bit of money!! They also sold the tiny tins of Humbrol enamel which you bought to paint your creations with, I cant recall ever painting one of mine I never had the patience or the extra money needed to buy the paint.

Our branch of Woolies was just below the Bartons Arms and The Hippodrome next door to Coombes the eye optician.
Around Xmas time in the 60's Woolies sold bulbs for Xmas trees which came in all shapes and sizes....snowmen, father xmas, xmas trees etc etc they were quite large bulbs when compared with the small fairey lights we have today.
The store also sold a great range of toys, the toys seemed better than those you could buy from the House That Jack Built? The other great thing about Woolies was the sweets...... "PICK & MIX" a dream world for most kids of the time, we were always hungry.
 
Hi
I am a new member living down in here in Somerset. I am writing a book on Woolworth stores nationwide based on recollections from former members of staff and shoppers. I have had many recollections sent to me from all over the UK and would like more from the Midlands area. Also photographs of Woolworth stores in the Birmingham area or staff photos would be more than welcome.
Thank you for reading this message.

Derek:)
 
Pick n Mix said:
Hi
I am a new member living down in here in Somerset. I am writing a book on Woolworth stores nationwide based on recollections from former members of staff and shoppers. I have had many recollections sent to me from all over the UK and would like more from the Midlands area. Also photographs of Woolworth stores in the Birmingham area or staff photos would be more than welcome.
Thank you for reading this message.

Derek:)
Click to expand...

Derek, I'm a local historian in Wolverhampton, specialising in theatres and cinemas, but quite often Woolworths stores were situated in the same bunch of properties.

Will Wolverhampton do? I can maybe send you direct Woolworths photos from local collections here, but the responsibility to proceed with them regarding copyright remins with yourself of course.

Richie.
 
Richie said:
Derek, I'm a local historian in Wolverhampton, specialising in theatres and cinemas, but quite often Woolworths stores were situated in the same bunch of properties.

Will Wolverhampton do? I can maybe send you direct Woolworths photos from local collections here, but the responsibility to proceed with them regarding copyright remins with yourself of course.

Richie.
Click to expand...
Hi Richie
Thank you for your reply. I should have said that I am interested in all Woolworth's photographs. Yes would be very interested in your photographs. I will of course contact the copyright holders for permission etc. You can contact me via email [email protected]
kind regards
Derek
 
Pick n Mix said:
Hi Richie
Thank you for your reply. I should have said that I am interested in all Woolworth's photographs. Yes would be very interested in your photographs. I will of course contact the copyright holders for permission etc. You can contact me via email [email protected]
kind regards
Derek
Click to expand...

Derek-will message you on google mail over the weekend. i don't have a special computer file for Woolworths stores-just a good memory where i have seen them and visited in person since the 1950's. Having a bit of a mortal combat with my scanner/printer machine as we speak but will keep you informed.

Richie
 
Hi Derek.
Pick n Mix said:
Hi
I am a new member living down in here in Somerset. I am writing a book on Woolworth stores nationwide based on recollections from former members of staff and shoppers. I have had many recollections sent to me from all over the UK and would like more from the Midlands area. Also photographs of Woolworth stores in the Birmingham area or staff photos would be more than welcome.
Thank you for reading this message. Derek. Type in search at the top of the page "More about Woolworths" the thread is by ziksby, photos & text Len.
Click to expand...
 
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Hi

Well done to Wellworths.
What a star to the Girl that has done it.
I think she has opened a Gold mine up.
Shows you what you can do all this
wretched newsbroadcasting getting everybody down.
Well done Wellworths.

Mike Jenks
 
I was a Saturday girl at the Aston Cross branch during my last year at school. They put me on the washing powder counter on my first day and lots of the boxes were not sealed correctly. I ended up sneezing half the day so the next week they put me on the tights and panties part. That was much better and I made friends with a lovely lady by the name of Mrs Spencer who put me right. I collected my wages from the desk one day and found out they had paid me over time which I hadn't done. I handed it back to the manager who comended me for my honesty and told me to keep the money for that very reason. I had other jobs after school too. Jean.
 
Jean,
I still have a fret saw,I bought from that store,c1948,my wife still uses it for her arts & crafts,it cost 1/6d
 
Pick n Mix, Type in the search box top of the page "More about Woolworths" it was posted by ziksby
 
Ray with my first days pay I bought my mom a pair of green mottled vases that were only broke 9 years ago just before she died. There is a photograph of a pink one identical on Maries thread the things we collect. A carpet fitter went in a bit heavy handed and broke them. Jean.
 
What was the great attraction for Woolies?.
Nowadays there are young people shops and old people shops,Woolies was for every one.
From the time when I was first aware of such things (about 3 years old),the attraction for me was the lovely girls that worked there.
 
Woolworths shops were great. I think up until 4/5 years ago you could still find things in there that no one else seemed to stock. Often we could come home with something and sing the little jingle 'Thats the wonder of Woolworths'. However, we lost the Cambridge Woolies long before the recession. They just couldn't afford the rent to be in the city centre. We got yet another Next shop in their old premises. The local people here still grumble about losing Woolies, however, we thought that in the last year or two they seemed to sell nothing but sweets and toys. I loved Woolies on 'The flat' in Brum. There was nothing they didn't sell from earrings to dishcloths...Oh lovely days. When we came to Brum, we always used to go into the one 'up the ramp' by New St station...get our pick and mix for the day. We won't be doing that this year will we?
 
G G Jean said:
Ray with my first days pay I bought my mom a pair of green mottled vases that were only broke 9 years ago just before she died. There is a photograph of a pink one identical on Maries thread the things we collect. A carpet fitter went in a bit heavy handed and broke them. Jean.
Click to expand...

So my vase was from woolies jean, thanks for letting me know, I bought it from a charity shop a few years back, it looks beautiful with flowers in it.
 
Mariew is it slightly rough to the touch?. They cost me almost a whole day wages but I wanted them nothing else. Could have been from somewhere else though. I am going to look through moms photo's taken in her home as I am sure they are on one of them. Bye. Jean.
 
Hi Derek
I used to work at Woolworths on a Saturday on the broken biscuit counter, we had to stand on pallets so that any bits of biscuit that dropped would go through the slats. It was the store on Aston Cross, Birmingham by the Television Studios. Sorry I can't help you with any photos.My time there was short as I worked there whilst staying on at school. Good luck with your writing Denise
 
It's a pity Marie because now the store has gone it may be worth a lot more the same as an autograph worth much more after the person has died. Jean.
 
I remember going to woolies as a real small child with my ration book for sweets....mmmm wonder why we had a sweet shop in herbert rd It was previously owned by an old lady known as old gal Cox anyone know anything about Herbert rd
 
Does anyone remember Woolworths Acocks Green? There used to be young lads outside, offering to look after your pram for 3d. whilst you went into the store. The prams were all line up against the wall of the building next door - many people used this service and I don;t recall any baby being abducted or pram stolen.
 
I worked at Woolworth`s in Newtown Row in 1964 then moved to
Woolworth`s in Aston Cross.You had to put the money in a tube which
went across the ceiling to the office.
We used to have actors coming in from the Studios out of Crossroads.
I served Audrey out of Coronation St.as she used to be in Crossroads.
I loved working there.
Carol
 
hi all
I remember when the new woolworths in town was opened around 1960, and the new cafe on the top floor used to do help yourself free iced cold water, they had to stop this service as it was such a novelty that us kids on sat mornings would make a beeline for it and empty it very quickly and so they barred anyone not eating from using it. we also used to get a well known propalatic and blow it up and release it from the stairs on to the sales floor especially if you fancied one of the saturday girls, when it landed on the counter it was a scream when they picked it up and realised what it was, very innocent fun though, my mom worked in woolworths in harborne high st in the mid/late 50's, and when my sister told her she banned me from going to town on sat morns, very sad the passing of this great high street name it invokes such happy childhood memories espesially at christmas even for my boys who have grown up now.
paul stacey
 
Hi

Wow those broken biscuits. tell the truth forgot
all about them till I read the latest posts.
Clearly a Health and saftey hazzard today.
Bits of boubons and those Jammy dodgers.
Great memories

Mike Jenks
 
Hi Mike: I agree Mike...what would we have done without those broken biscuits and misshaped Cadbury's chocolates. We all knew what the bags looked like and everyone had their favourites. They were really worth having. Lovely memories.
 
I worked at Woolworths New Street as a Saturday girl from 1967 to 1970, then in my hols from college at Woolworths in the Bull Ring in 1970 to 1973. The highlight was getting to work on the record counter (during Flower Power summer of 1967), when we could play whatever records we wanted during the week, so long as we played the top 20 at the weekend. We used to put The Beatles' 'Baby You're a Rich Man' on whilst we cashed up!
New Street also had a fresh veg counter, and we used to get stuck by the front doors selling our wares to incoming customers on a Saturday. It was freezing in winter, so we wore gloves! The Bull Ring was more up market with a 'supermarket' for food. I can remember if a customer wanted to pay by cheque - you had to get a supervisor to check it out! Happy Days and great friends were made there.
 
Hi Carol I too worked at Woolworths Aston Cross Saturdays and sometimes school holidays. I remember the staff from Cross roads coming in from time to time too.
 
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