Tag Archives: Ablitt’s

Blanche Kennard : WWII WRNS 1940s

Pier Hotel and Castle

Pier Hotel and Castle

My father worked on a farm near Ryde, which was where I grew up. I had a friend Peggy and we went everywhere together, so we both applied to join the WRNS. I thought I’d join the WRNS and see the world. Peggy  passed and went to Eastbourne but I didn’t – I had a couple of teeth which needed fixing and they wouldn’t have me till they were done.

After my 2 weeks training they sent me to Yarmouth. I didn’t like it at first, I wanted to be with my friend, but after a fortnight I loved being in Yarmouth.  I was a caterer, the Petty Officers’ Steward for the officers stationed in the Pier Hotel (now The George). My job was to serve them their food in The Kings Head, and help in the kitchen and do the shopping. I used to go up to Ablitts to buy their meat. Blanche Kennard nee Dore b 1922

Margaret Lawry: Shops, High Street, Ablitt’s 1960s

Ablitt's the Butchers, High Street

Ablitt’s the Butchers, 1990s photo from Jane Blake

I worked at Ablitts on Saturday mornings and in the summer holidays in the 60s.    Mollie and Malcolm Mallett owned the business. Jim Smith, the butcher, and Phyl Hardy the cashier worked there too.  Jim always used to call you ‘My Gal.’ Vertically next to photo)

I used to cut up meat and make mince in a big mincing machine, and make sausages. Depending on which sausages we were making, I used to cut up various pieces of pork or beef and add secret ingredients and mix it all up by hand in a big metal bowl. With one hand I then put it in the machine and pushed it through with a wooden plunger, and caught it in the skin with my other hand.  I then plaited up the sausages and hoped 8 sausages weighed 1lb.

I used to deliver meat around the town carrying a big wicker basket, and remember a lovely housebound lady always gave me 6d tip.  I also delivered to Longs Wharf and Yew Trees when it was a hotel.  Mollie delivered meat by van out in the country.

Jim used to put sawdust on the butcher’s block at the end of the day and scrub it with a metal brush. That made a lovely noise and it would look like new again.

I always went home with sawdust on my shoes as the floor was covered in it, but Mum was used to it as Dad was a carpenter, and she’d worked in Ablitts when she left school in 1936.
M.S. b 1949

Pat Burt, Shops: High Street 1930s

Haward’s fish shop was on the corner – Pinings.  Because there were no fridges, the ice for the fish shop was brought by horse and cart and delivered in the back entrance. One day the horse dropped dead, don’t you remember? In the entrance to the lane, the horse died.  It was a shock.
The butcher’s next door was Minnie Flint’s.  Flint and Fryer were the same butcher.  Ablitts was further down the High Street. Pat B

Kellys Directory Yarmouth 39 listing residents, shops and services A -M

Kellys Directory Yarmouth 39  Minnie Flint: Butcher

 

urt nee Adams b 1929