Working in a shop

The shop.wma

2 minutes

[488 kb]

EMOHA:

What sort of shop was it that you went to?

Interviewee:

Tobacconist's and newsagent's.

EMOHA:

Did it have a particular name?

Interviewee:

Yes, it was Kempin's.

EMOHA:

Where was it?

Interviewee:

Opposite University Road, London Road opposite University Road, and we never had the door closed all winter. And gales used to blow down University Road, freeze me to death. We never had any heat in the shop because we sold tobacco, and it was always said in those days that it dried the tobacco out and the cigarettes out, so you didn't have any heat in the shop.

EMOHA:

How did you keep warm in the shop?

Interviewee:

Well, we had a little oil stove in one corner. Right by what was, next door was the dining room and it stood there with the door open. And a little tiny oil stove, and that was only when it was desperate, desperately cold. I used to wear mittens, and folding newspapers I used to have chilblains dreadfully, on my hands, dreadful chilblains. You didn't have to complain, you'd got no one to complain to...

EMOHA:

How did you treat your chilblains then?

Interviewee:

Well, we had chilblain ointment, what you call chilblain ointment, it was green, it smelt horrible but... yes. There used to be a little shop in Loseby Lane and I used to go there and buy my mittens. Two old ladies kept it and they knitted mittens and I used to buy them from there, 'cause they wore out very quickly.

EMOHA:

Did you not knit yourself?

Interviewee:

Well I did but I was always knitting jumpers and things for my brothers, I never thought of knitting - I never got on very well with fingers on gloves or anything.

Last updated: 5/12/03
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