Page 4 - Frank Day's memories and Day Family article

week, because that's what made our wirelesses go. It was sixpence a battery, but they lasted

about three to four days at a time. On the other side was Mrs Hoskin's Sweet Shop, and then
came the overhang houses, followed by the almshouses opposite and next to the Ship Inn was

Frank Caters' Parts and Vehicle Repair Shop. Cross Street had a few houses, and coming
back towards the town and next to Cross Street was Etwells' Dairy. Then there was a row of

houses where Mrs Simmonds, Mr Dance and Mrs Smith lived and then two or three old

cottages, and Fred Wheeler's Shoe Repair Shop; he had one leg and used to sit just inside the
door and do his work. Next came Henry Bowyer's Corn and Seed Merchants (he also owned

the farm at Ashridge Wood and was our milkman). There was also the Herring Brothers'
China & Glass etc., and Herrings' Coaches, later taken over by Mr Brimblecombe. Besides

these businesses was H & K Dredge Ladies' and Children's clothes, then Mr Mitchell the

Tobacconist and next to him was Foster's Sweet Shop, which later became Frank King
(chemist). Next we had the Galleon Tea Rooms owned by Gladys Reeve, who later become

Mrs Plumridge. Then came
Mr Jenkins' Cycle Shop and then an alley and a big yard and garden, which was occupied by

a
Mr Charles Townsend, who lived above and at the back of the next three shops: The London

Central Meat Company, Mr Wigmore the Dairy and Mr Gough the hairdresser.

The L.C.M, as it was known, was where I first started work as a butcher in 1935. Mr Harry

Cottrell was manager. Next to those three shops was Dickie Arnold's paper shop and then
Somerscale Fish Shop, owned by Mr & Mrs Curtis. Mr Curtis was killed around about 1937

on his motor cycle at the bridge at Finchampstead Road. Then there was the Redan pub. Mr

Rance's son, Cliff also worked at the L.C.M. as a lad. Next came Mrs Scraggs the
greengrocer and W.T. Martin the butcher. He (Mr Martin) was Mayor of Wokingham, and he

also was one of the Martins of the Terrace, who also built the swimming pool. Then came Mr
Irving the grocer and this was a quite a large store and we used to watch him making up the

butter in half-pound and pound packs. He used bats to cut lumps off a foot square of solid

butter and made them into oblong packets.

Next along was Mr Hopkins' Coach Works. He had a yard there and he lived in
Easthampstead Road, the last house before Westcote Road. His daughter, Mary was the

organist of Rose Street Methodist Church. After that came Mrs Osmond's Bakers, and about
8 pm every Saturday night she used to sell off all stock that was left, and we could get a big