Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 07:40 |
Where's Bob Ridsdale?
It's at desperate times like these that a village could do with a Bob Ridsdale, Fred Morrell or Ronnie Holmes. When I grew up in the village and on into my twenties these guys were hawking fresh vegetables, groceries and meat around the district out of large customised vans/small wagons.
Bob lived not far from us in Low Fold, at the first of the pair of semis on North Road. He stored his vegetables and groceries in the old barn at Low Fold Farm (demolished to make way for Manor Way) together with his wagon. He toured the district making fresh food available to those with young families and the elderly who found it difficult to stray far from home.
Fred Morrell also ran a similar business from Harper Square at the top of the village and was a familiar sight in the village.
Ronnie Holmes was a butcher and managed Fox's butchers shop at the top of Station Road in Steeton. He came to Sutton once a week on a Thursday or Friday (can't remember which) and parked outside our garage at Rose Cottage (now Alister House) by the King's Arms. I used to buy pork dripping from him, dug out of a large bowl and weighed onto a grease proof sheet and wrapped up. My aunt Lizzie used to buy roast ham, potted meat and polony sausage (now seldom seen). Fox's were pork butchers in Ilkley and Ronnie ran their small shop in Steeton.
During the 1970's a fishmonger from Fleetwood brought fresh fish to Sutton once a week and also sold it from his van, again parked outside our garage. I can't remember his name or whether or not he had one on the side of the van.
These by gone traders have come to mind as my wife has tried to order food online from a supermarket, so far without success! |
Ronald Walton
Sutton in Craven
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 09:05 |
Hi Robin I remember them well it was part of my childhood seeing them every week , Bob came to our house at least twice a week happy memories |
Isobel Stirk
Silsden
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 10:57 |
I remember all three when I was growing up in Sutton. I often was sent to Fred Morrell's in Harper Square to get 'wet' fish. Also went to get the same thing from Edith Coleman. I think that was somewhere near The King's Arms. I felt sorry for her as her hands always seemed to be very cold. Every Tuesday morning Tim Pighills, the butcher, would call at houses in his van. We usually got potted meat! |
David Laycock
Melbourne Australia
Friday, March 27, 2020 21:45 |
Good memories, we lived at 10 Crag View, and we had the Fred and friends come round as my Mum wasn't the best on her legs. I noticed a couple of Morrells names on Facebook and wonder if they are related to Frank, who went to Sutton Primary, then Skipton Grammar with John Steel, as I went to Keighley Grammar. |
Alan Pickles
Bingley
Sunday, March 29, 2020 19:56 |
Bob Ridsdale set up well after Fred Morrow after, I think, working for Ivan Spence in the shop in Main Street. Before either of them there was Mr. Wilcock from Park Avenue coming round in his van selling fish. That was in the late 40's early 50's. Stirks butchers used to deliver but there was another butcher opened lower down Main Street but I am unable to remember his name. I think it was Tim Pighill. His shop was up the steps. He also delivered. Horace came round from Utley on a Saturday selling baked items from the back of his van.
No doubt I shall be corrected on these but there were also others who came into the village selling their wares. The one who really stands out was the Ice Cream van from Earby. We used to wait for him at the top of Hazel Grove Road.
Thanks for the memories. |
Alan Pickles
Bingley
Monday, March 30, 2020 18:46 |
with apologies to Fred Morrell's family. The name Morrell is far more familiar than Morrow. I don't know what I was thinking about. |
Stephen Bielby
Sutton in Craven
Friday, April 3, 2020 09:12 |
Thorntons of Cross Hills are delivering during this crisis |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 18:52 |
Fred Morrell and Bob Ridsdale were contemporary to my recollection. In the late 1950's Ivan's daughter Shiela worked in the shop and when she got married Bob's son, Raymond, replaced her and I think he worked there until Ivan sold it in the early 1970's. We had a tick book and if we wanted anything my mother sent us across to the shop with it and the item and cost was marked up. The account was settled at the end of the week after we had put an order in for groceries. Fred Pye delivered the order for us in a large box then stopped for a cup of coffee and we all watched the Lone Ranger or Pop Eye in glorious black and white. I always remember that Fred didn't take sugar but put a pinch of salt in his coffee. In my day there were six shops in the High Street and the fish and chip shop. |
