kwik save Leyland

[anne.w]

Can any one help please, i am a home carer one of my elderly clients asked me if i could try to find out for them, what other buildings were there before kwik save,i remember a woolworth about 36 yrs ago, but can't recall what else was there, can any one remember?

[William R]

If I remember right, before Woolworth`s it was the Regent Cinema. This was due to show the film "No Orchids for Miss Blandish" but was burned down the weekend before. It was rumoured that the film was a bit risque for the time, and other powers may have decided it was not for Leyland. I can remember the Regent being built, because we used to walk on planks before the place was finished - a long time ago!! Thats as I remember it, Anne, but it was pre-war. There used to be a Fruit shop at one side and a Barbers at the other, I think. A Clog Dancer used to entertain there some evenings on the forecourt. William R.

[rocketmanjohn]

I seem to remember that the Regent was burned down in 1949 or 1950. Yes William, next door was Harry Bamber's barber shop, I tried to get a thread going on Leyland barbers about 18 months ago, nobody seemed interested.
John

[William R]

John, I used to go to that one opposite what was the Public Hall, was it a bloke called Eastham? He took just five minutes, in and out, real back and sides, about 1/6d I think. Remember Bambers at the Regent. Went to the Regent when they showed "Over the Rainbow" and remember to this day when the monochrome colour changed to technicolour as Dorothy opened a door to go into the garden or something, everyone gasped, honest, you could hear it. It was the first time I believe colour was shown. How things have chaged. I remember my Dad taking me to the Victoria (without the NEW) at Preston to hear one of the new "talkies" I think that was Al Jolson, but not sure, I think it was 1929. William R.

[anacortesdamp]

The barber across from the Public Hall was Booth Moss. There was another one at the Regent, in a converted house just south of the cinema itself, run by Fred Stringfellow. Where Kwiksave's parking lot is was a buider's yard - Leyland Construction.

Frank Damp

[anne.w]

Thank you William, for taking the time to reply to my request, i will take this info back to my client, i am sure he will be very interested and pleased,
if anyone else knows anything, please let me know
thank you
Anne

[William R]

Thanks Frank, Booth Moss it was. When we were driven from the Market stalls in Water street by Sgt.Pollitt we used to make for the Leyland Construction Company yard, (was that owned by someone actually called Leyland), we were in Fred Pennington`s gang in those days. If we were driven from the yard we used to go to sit on Dr.Johnson`s wall, much to his disgust (Get off my wall!!!) We were wartime teenagers,. you know the type. Happy Days. William R.

[Alan Marsden]

I seem to recall that the barber opposite the Public hall ( in 1962) was 'Richard Mosscrop'. He was a short ( perhaps height challenged is appropriate ) gentleman, he walked with a limp, the result of an old war wound, had little hair himself just two or three long hairs going from one side to the other ( Bobby Charlton style), and he wore glasses and a light brown smock ! He later moved his barber establishment to the front room of the first house in the terrace on Balcarres road , just opposite to the Eagle and Child , where he cut your hair, ( always short back and sides ), in under five minuites !

His establishment was also the source of supply for male prophylactics , of course in those days one didn't ask for such items, a 'nod towards the drawer, and a wink', was all that was required ! ( Sounds like Monty Python , nudge nudge, wink, wink, could he have been the source of Cleeses inspiration ? )

Alan M

[anacortesdamp]

Alan:

I think Mosscrop took over the business when Booth Moss retired. Dad and I went to Booth Moss for some years, then switched to Stringfellow. That first house on Balcarres is now a Funeral Director, who did my Dad's funeral.


Frank

[Alan Marsden]

William R., my wife Barbara informs me that Dr, Johnson's estabishment later became "The Gables", ( is it still so named ? ), we had our wedding reception there in 1962 !
Alan M