Harry Lee had had what was more or less a department store in the two storey brick building opposite the Police Station.  Godwins, who had a shop in Freshwater, then had it, and were struggling a bit, so my father took over the lease from them in 1951. It was the year of a big Poliomyelitis outbreak and the Daily Mirror carried a headline calling the Island ‘Polio Island’, so no one came for holidays and it nearly finished our business.
Edward Whitewood

High Street, Whitewoods 1970s with Ruth Mills in doorway Photo M. Scott

When I passed the 11 Plus – the scholarship, we bought my uniform from Whitewoods. They stocked our blazers and uniforms for Newport Grammar School.
Diana Broomfield nee Ryall b 1942

Ruth Mills at work at Whitewoods, High Street photo : Ruth Mills