Tag Archives: Kelseys

Betty Coates-Evans: Shops, Holdings

Holdings sweet shop, the Square.

Holdings sweet shop, the Square.

My first job when I left school was working in the sweet shop, which Mr. Holding bought in 1952. It had been Kelseys but he modernised it. He owned the whole block at that time. There was still a barber’s shop in a room at the back of the Town Hall, and a toy and souvenirs shop next to the sweet shop. It’s been a cafe, gift shop, ice cream shop and now it’s a Delicatessen. Betty Lock

Kelseys, which became Holdings sweet shop, the Square.
Queen Elizabeth II visit 1965 Square Kelseys confectioners

Queen Elizabeth II unveils plaque on Town Hall 1965. .Kelseys confectioners seen in background: photo Terry Henderson

 

 

 

Eileen Lansdowne, Pauline Hatch: Shops 1930s

Square with coaches and Town hall

Square with coaches and Town hall

In the Square, next to the Town Hall and a bit behind it, where Annette’s the hairdresser is now, there was a cobbler’s, Mr. Donovan. He had a wooden leg.
On the other side of the Town Hall, on the side towards the sea, was Kelsey’s, with  Jimmy Gobini’s gents hairdressers in one side, and a tobacconist and confectioners on the other. Then there was a ‘bits and pieces’ shop. It was amazing what us children could buy for 2d. Mills Tea Rooms was on the corner. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b1921

I can remember Mr Donovan with a wooden leg, the shoemender. He used to swear like a trooper and I think he used to drink a bit.  We used to have to take our shoes down there and he used to put great big thick rubber bits on to make them last.  He had a very nice wife and a son called John who became a policeman.  He was a fierce old man and it was a grotty old place tacked on to the Town Hall. Pauline Harwood nee Hatch b 1930

Joan Cooper: Shops, the Square 1920s

When I first left school, I worked in the local post office, then moved to Kelsey’s confectioners.  Tobacco was sold there too and Lord Seely would come in to buy his Balkan Soubrani  – insisting on me serving him.  My aunt was Assistant Matron at Cheam School where Lord Seely had been a pupil, –  Prince Phillip went to Cheam School too.
Joan Cokes nee Cooper b 1918

Shops: Kelseys Confectioners 1930s

Advertisement for Kelseys Confectioners in the Square, 1920s, 1930s

Advertisement for Kelseys Confectioners in the Square, 1920s, 1930s

Laurie Kelsey was in charge. Laurie, we didn’t know her by that. We used to call her Aunt Annie.  She was nice, she was deaf, wasn’t she.  She used to have long tray of sweets uncovered, with a glass top on and she always had a chair in the corner for us little’uns to get up on to so we could have a good look to see what sweets she’d got.  She sold toys and all.  Next to that was Saxbury’s souvenirs, postcards, mostly things about the Island, Yarmouth and all that.  Phil Kelsey b 1920

 

We used to run into Kelsey’s, stand on the chair they had and choose our sweets from the big glass jars.   We couldn’t see over the counter.  Pat Burt nee Adams b 1929 and Annette Haynes nee Holloway b 1929
b 1929

Effie Pitman: Shops 1930s

When I finished school, I had a week off then I started work the day the old king died, George V, in January 1936. I started work for 7/6 a week at the shop in the Square, where the Deli is now. It was a hairdresser one side and Kelsey’s confectioners and tobacconists the other.  Mr. Gobini was the barber. He was Italian. He charged 4d for a haircut, except for Dr. Drummond. He paid 6d and went into the back room to have his hair cut on his own. I used to work in the barbers in the morning and go into Kelsey’s confectioners if I was needed. Seven and a half years I worked there.

Mrs Walton from the Terrace used to come in to buy those little cigarillos she smoked. One day I remember when she was walking across the Square, the elastic must have ‘gone’ in her French Knickers and they fell down.  She just stooped down and picked them up, and carried on walking.
Effie Pitman b 1921