A Pound Could Stretch Forever

By Val Wilson

When I was fifteen I started working on a Saturday at the local grocers, it felt really grown up to be doing a job and also earning my own money – a £1 for the full day. It seemed a lot to me at the time remembering that this was 1962 and a £1 could stretch forever. Grocery shops were very different then, no picking and choosing from the shelves; everything was behind the counter and lots of things like butter and biscuits were sold unpackaged and had to be weighed out when requested. One of my guilty pleasures was to eat the broken biscuits when no-one was looking. In the school holidays I was asked to work for a week when one of the staff was on holiday. I jumped at the chance as this meant that I could save the money and go to Newcastle to shop with cash, not at ticket shops which is what I was used to. Prior to credit cards, the tick man would lend you say £20 in the form of a cheque and you would repay £21, but only certain shops could take the credit. I opened a bank account and saved diligently and the day came when I could draw the savings and head to Newcastle to buy a new outfit. I was so excited when the day came and headed off with my mam on the number 11 bus along the Coast Road. This was a real adventure, with money in my pocket to spend as I liked. I’d probably been in C&A on Northumberland Street before but as far as I can remember I hadn’t bought anything there before this. There was so much to choose from and I found it difficult to select that one special item. Eventually I plumped for a two-piece of a straight skirt and top to match in a mustard and cream check. Of course I had to keep it on to go home in, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so proud and smart. Even after all these years, the excitement of that day is with me. I still love to go to Newcastle, however nothing’s quite match the thrill of that first day and spending my own hard earned money.