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I joined Pratt’s during the 1960s my 1st job since leaving school I trained in kitchen furniture and homewares and went on to enjoy many years in-store This led me on to an entire career in department store retailing
Well done Pratt’s for setting me on a very enjoyable lifetime in the wonderful world of department stores
Missing from tags: Tim Richards (at front), Michael Bramble, Libby Pollard.
His dates are 1900-1986, if that helps
Hi, I know that Raymond Russell (collector of the Russell Collection now in Edinburgh) performed on an Alec Hodson virginal in December 1940 in Cambridge, but am uncertain whether he owned it or not. Would be very interested to learn more about Hodson and his work.
I believe Blinkhorns was in Gloucester before 1940 as I have a gift card given to my Father when he Married and he Married in 1929 also I have his safe driving awards which dates from 1932 until 1952. Not only was it a department store I have photo of the vans used to delivery furniture and also they did house removals. In Gloucester we have a lane named after Blinkhorns called Blinkhorns Bridge Lane
I worked in various departments in the early ’70’s, notably ‘export’ which was situated next to parcels dispatch, with the manger Doug Dale, two secretaries, Gloria and Shelley and myself crammed into a small office opposite Mr Stroud’s office, the manager of parcels. I also worked in sample sales and the dispatch queries office. Following 3 years at Clearings I moved to Bon Marche in Brixton
Yes, Valerie you were correct. I have now amended the post accordingly. Thank you.
In response to my last comment, Dorothy could actually be a sister of Alice, there were two. Alice Maud Payne (Mother) and daughter Alice Maud Payne.
Just perusing on Ancestry and discovered that the name Colello comes from Dorothy Colello Payne, Alice Maud Payne’s daughter.
Hello Margot, In 2014 John Lewis pledged to keep Knight and Lee in Southsea, please see the below link for further details. https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/business/john-lewis-pledges-its-knight-and-lee-store-in-southsea-will-stay-1-6024257
I worked at Pratts from 1975 until it closed and I remember the gardens very well. I recognise some of the people in the picture: the first on the left is Jim Marham who was the section Mananger of display. The man in the suit is Rollo Persand, no matter how hot he would always be in a suit with handkerchief in the top pocket, and a waistcoat, sometimes he wore very outlandish silk waistcoats too, I don’t know how he got away with it as “business dress” was very strict!
I can’t seem to find any information beyond this article. Are you able to say what the situation re John Lewis and the Portsmouth northern quarter development currently?
The service building was closed late 2017 with nearly all staff made redundant
Great memories, my first job after leaving school in 1979, I left in 1983. I remember Gill Kemp, Mark White, Desmond and Cathy Fitzgerald, Phil Hanky, Roger Filler, John Canvin, Caroline Bailey, so many to mention.
I worked here in 1967/68 a Saturday job. I got my first ever pay packet 27 shillings & eleven pence for a Saturday. I also remember a coach trip to Manchester to watch watford play, I believe George Best was playing it took some 8 hours to get there on a coach, full of smokers and petrol fumes from the engine, but they were happy days
Wow this takes me back I started as a JL Trainee at 16 and worked in furnishing fabrics and felt so important to sit behind the desk in the blinds section then I progressed to measuring and cutting the fabrics those rolls were so heavy ! Very happy memories of this place calling your DM By his title Mr Floyd but allowed to call him Gary out of customer earshot!
I too spent 6 months working here in 1987 under the very strict and stern Mr Rastrick. Good time but a trek to get to the shop floor, up that ramp horrid in the rain going to tea break and the kids used to wreck the display toys as we tidied up each Saturday, we would be retrieving bits of toys from up and down Queens Road.
I worked in this department when I was 18 hours of fun could be had by squashing your colleagues in this contraption!! I also remember the paint mixing machine round the other side of the dept !
My dear Mum was a children’s Nanny in London in the 1930’s and always bought their clothes in Daniel Neals. Consequently my brother and myself were also kitted out from this illustrious shop. I too remember the dappled rocking horse in the shoe department and the X-ray machine where you could see your toes in a green light in your new shoes to show you had plenty of room. I have very fond memories of Daniel Neal. We lived in Aylesbury and came up twice a year for our summer and winter shoes and clothes. It was a defining time in my childhood. This was in the 40’s and 50’s. and it started a love affair with London. After visiting Daniel Neal we would go to Selfridges and have lunch in their Jungle Restaurant. I always remember Selfridges had Uncle Holly instead of Father Christmas. I am now 76 and my brother 71 and we often reminisce about those happy days.A
I come from a long line of Trewins and we can date our family back to the mid 16th century when one of the family married one of the members of the Courtenay family who were the then Earls of Devon. My great grandfather John Trewin was a sea captain in the Merchant navy, my grandfather was the writer and journalist John Courtenay Trewin (Born in Plymouth in 1908), my father was the writer, publisher and journalist Ion Courtenay Gill Trewin, I am Simon Courtenay Trewin married to Helen Adie. Our son is Jack Courtenay Trewin. I have never met another Trewin! The name I gather means ‘the man who lives at the white farmhouse’.
It is not 1963, St Johns Beacon that you can see behind was not finised until 1969.
Does anyone know the name of the company that designed and produced the wonderful curved display units?. My son has just graduated with a degree in product design and would be very interested to make contact with the company. Thankyou Lorraine Hulman
Does anybody remember the Young Partners Branch Council inviting (Sir) Cliff Richard to one of our meetings in the 60’s? Although he didn’t attend in person, he did send us cassette tape with a message that was played at YPBC meeting after work in the fifth floor restroom. Can anybody add to this memory?
Does anybody remember the Oxford Street dances in the auditorium? Rod Stewart, Moody Blues, Creation, Sounds Incorporated, The Herd, Long John Baldry, Nashville Teens, Julie Driscoll……..crikey, I’m back there and bopping!
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