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In the 1960’s Mum shopped at Pratts and used to treat us to an icecream in the restaurant. I remember little scoops of vanilla ice cream with a wafer served in silver metal goblet-type bowls with long spoons. White linen tablecloths and table service.
In 1956 my first pair of nursing shoes were purchased by post from Daniel Neals recommended by the then Westminster Hospital.Very comfortable and lasted 4years.
Hi Matthew,
Thank you for your comment. Articles on the Memory Store have been contributed to by members of the public and volunteers. Due to this, we do not hold a list of sources for this particular article as sources may sit outside the John Lewis Partnership’s archives. If you have a particular question about Bon Marche please get in contact at heritage.centre@johnlewis.co.uk and a member of the archive team will be able to assist.
All the best, Imogen
Jones Brothers gave me my first job in 1987, I was a junior circuit trainee. I spent 6 months on the glove dept Mrs Morris was my manager, then went to the linen dept and finally the toy dept at xmas time. My Auntie Wendy worked in the staff canteen.
Do you have any sources you can cite for the information on this page?
Thanks!
Pleased I have found this page. I joined the hairdressing department in Bainbridge as an apprentice in January 1971. Very interesting to read the history of the Partnership.
Hi Elenid,
Thank you for you message, I have passed your details onto Geoff as requested.
Remember my mother taking me to Daniel Neil’s in London about August of 1959 or 60 to be outfitted for my uniform for St. Joseph’s Priory in Dorking. Coming from Jamaica all of the woolen clothes were rather daunting but so grateful for the advise to get two cardigans and not one!
was this written by my old manager Geoff Pilgrim if so can you let him have my email Many thanks Elenid
Hi I have a 1959 Alec Hodsdon spinet I acquired in 2020 from Peter Barnes Harpsichords. I was thinking of doing some research on his output, though it looks as if much of his work was actually done for the John Lewis partnership, so it would be interesting to know if any workshop records were kept. I like the fact that he was based in Lavenham as some of my family come from that part of the country. But I understand that Fred Sykes actually carried on most of the business after Hodsdon took more of a back seat later on – I don’t know if others have information. I would be interested in getting in touch with Camilla who has posted below.
I was one of those managers who abseiled down the building. Wonderful times and fantastic memories.
I have a lot of memories of being made to run to the warehouse and back while at school during cross country games lessons. My dad looked after maintenance there after the original closure, he was based at John Lewis Welwyn and currently works at Odney. I now work in distribution as an engineer at our newest warehouse in Fenny Lock. I also go to the Costco from time to time shopping, the roof is impressive and glad it was preserved.
I am still using Jonelle, sheets pillowcasesandTowels that I bought in 1990 when I moved to Maidenhead with my family of 4. The towels have not freyed or lost colour and the sheets and pillow are palmist like new after all these years of constant wear and tear. I really miss their quality in today’s offerings.
I started first job in Jones brothers as junior display carpenter/designer central display studio top floor.1978..my manager David hare .. remember Brian etc display signs..etc..a few years later became display carpenter designer carpenter..for the Jones bros display team a few floors lower.with Jackie..including sue .Jackie ..Lynne..etc till.82…great days…
Has anyone got a pre-war girls’ boarding school uniform list from Daniel Neals? I would love to know what’s on it
Hi Camilla, it was interesting to note that you are the great granddaughter of Alec Hodsdon. I found that interesting that you posted your comment on 24/11/22. On 26/22/22 I picked up a big two manual Hodsdon harpsichord 1952 down near Wellington; I am in New Zealand, BTW. This was the first harpsichord owned by the University of Auckland, bought in 1952. It was disposed of in the ’60s and re-surfaced recently, when I was able to acquire it. I am a full-time harpsichord and fortepiano maker and as this was the first harpsichord I ever saw, as a schoolboy, I felt strongly about restoring ot to former grandeur. The action is in a terrible state and I will have to make a full set of new jacks as most of the originals have been lost and the remainder are not usable. They are however useful as patterns for the new set. I too have been interested in finding out more about Alec and have not succeeded in tracking down much information about him. His big harpsichord is a very complicated instrument with many small components. But it is highly imposing and I look forward to completeing this project as there is proposed a performance of the Poulenc and Elliot Carter concertos here next year for which this instrument is ideally suited. Paul Downie Auckland
Peter Naylor I have some information about Sheila and Barrie that you might find of interest (nothing mysterious). Cheers,
The I Lawrie is indeed the same Ian Lawrie(my father) that ended his career as MD of Jessops,
My Great Grandfather is Alec Hodsdon and we have lots of history and information!
Hi Grace, Unfortunately John Lewis Birmingham closed its doors in 2020. All the best, Imogen
Is the community hub still operating? AI agree that this was an entirely new concept introduced with the opening of John Lewis Birmingham, the Community Hub was a free space for local groups and charities to meet and use for their work.
To drive this electric vehicle you had to have a driving licence as I was the only person working in the mews I became the driver it was so slow the only way to get to the middle of Finchley Road was to start on yellow at the traffic lights then you just managed to get across the road before the lights changed .When clearing out of one of the garages in the mews we found a second electric vehicle we found a second electric vehicle witch we pushed to the local scrapyard
I remember those opening days well! I worked in Haberdashery and one of my jobs was re stocking the metal lampshade frames. It was a dangerous process and I used to get multiple shocks! Come to think of it looking back I’m sure that’s what caused my hair to fall out! Probably too late to make a claim now. Happy days though and unbelievable to think that’s over 46 years ago. I’m only in my 40’s now!!
When I was eleven, I longed for a suit instead of dresses or skirts and jumpers. My mother told me that if I could save up the fare from Bath to London we would go to a famous shop called Daniel Neale’s and get one. I began to save in a tin labelled “London Expedition” and when I was twelve off we went. I got not only a green tweed suit but hat and gloves as well and my very first pair of nylons ( this was 1959). I felt so grown up!
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