Co-op memories. by David Holton
My father Alf, commenced working for the Rugby Co-operative Society Limited (as it was then called) upon leaving St Matthew’s school in 1926 at the age of fourteen. He initially worked in the New Bilton branch in Lawford Road as a shop assistant. Life was very different then –no self-service and most commodities were weighed out according to the customer’s requirements. Also the cost of each item would have to be jotted down and totalled (no automatic cash registers then). In the 1930’s he was then transferred to the main Grocery warehouse situated in Queen Street (off Chapel Street) and behind the main shops and offices in Chapel Street. He continued working there for the remainder of his working life as a warehouseman, subsequently becoming in 1963, manager/foreman of the warehouse.
One of my treats on school holidays, between 9-11 years of age, was accompanying my father to work on a few occasions. He used to cycle from home in New Bilton so for me to turn into the gates with him made me feel very proud.
I helped to make up some of the orders for the 48 branches of the society, which the warehouse kept supplied. Then they would be loaded onto the lorries on pallets for each branch. The absolute highlight for me was the occasions that I would go out with one of the two drivers, Tony and Joe. Tony Emery later was to work for many years alongside our own Glen McBirnie on the Rugby Portland Portland_Cement Transport fleet. Tony drove the Ford Thames Trader, which was the largest in the grocery fleet. It was a thrill for me to be riding about the local town and countryside and help to unload the goods at the various branches that spread as far as Southam.
Looking back from the present day to those times, it is a real shame that due to Health and Safety legislation, the youngsters of today cannot share and have experiences like that. Cynic’s would say that I am lucky to have survived the experience without any injury, but I beg to differ - for me it was a big adventure and which I could tell my schoolmates about. It was no different from helping with the gardening or playing in the local fields.
It was a different world then, but not necessarily all the changes made, have in my view been made for the general good.
Moving forward in time, to 1969 and my first job was as an assistant in The Craven Road branch on the corner of Murray Road, during the summer holidays. I spent a couple of weeks there and the manager there was Roger Lee, whom I got on with very well. The busiest days were Thursday and Friday, when customers who worked at the GEC would drop all the order books through the door. I had the job of making up and packing the orders ready for collection at 4-30 when the GEC came out. The workers came up Murray Road from under the station bridge in swarms, most walking or cycling but a few in cars. It was an incredible sight, although quite normal in those days.
The central premises in Chapel Street consisted of many departments. There was a furniture department, gentlemen’s outfitters (ladies had their own store in Regent Street), grocery, pharmacy, tobacconist, off-licence, Ladies (ground floor) and Gentlemen’s (basement) shoe department. All my footwear was purchased there until the shop closed in the late 1970’s. Mr Brown was the manager ably assisted by Bill Moses. I loved to have my shoes fitted by him, as he was a qualified chiropodist and gave me good advice, which I still use today when looking for shoes. Other memories are of the wonderful and magical Christmas toy fairs, that were held in the dance-hall on the first floor of the Chapel Street premises, where large Hornby-Dublo train layouts, or Scalextric motor racing circuits – six lanes wide, would form the main attraction, together with a display of every toy imaginable. Of course there was a long queue to visit Father Christmas in his grotto. The toy fair used to be packed out with hundred’s of children and their parents. There were also Christmas parties at the Co-op’s Oakfield Club in Bilton Road, for the children of employees, which in addition to the customary jelly and ice cream and Christmas cake, had excellent entertainment and games.
Chapel Street premises in 2007, prior to demolition. The dance hall was situated on the first floor to the left of the photograph. Note the art deco styling to the brickwork.
Other memories are of our coal being delivered on the battery coal lorry. The coalman who came to us for many years until we were made a smokeless zone was Fred Bromage (known as Brummy). It used to amaze me as he carried the coal in a hundredweight sack, on his back. He was very cheerful and a ready smile on his coal-blackened face. I also remember a bicycle, (a Co-op made machine, recommended to my Dad by Mr Henderson the grocery manager) which was without doubt the best I ever had. It was new in 1963, red frame with white plastic mudguards, I had that bike until late 1968 when sadly I had outgrown it’s 24-inch frame. However it was sold to another family in New Bilton and I know it gave many years of sturdy service. In those days I went on many bike rides in the long summer evenings, as well as cycling back and forth, between New Bilton and Newbold Grange School each day, so inevitably it would have clocked up a fair few thousand miles over the years.
It was with a hint of sadness when in early August 2007, I walked out of the store for the last time, I know that I never worked there, but having had a father whose life revolved around the Co-op for the first 21 years of my life, ensured that it was firmly engrained in my psyche. Even one of the shop assistants there on the final day I discovered was taken on by my Dad in 1973. A very poignant thought to close on.
David Holton
Early Co-Op Pictures Donated to Group
The group were delighted to receive some early photographs of the Co-Op buildings in
These may have been taken at the Turn of the last century and show the buildings that were on the sight before the building above was built.
The Pictures were donated by Julia Emerson and have been restored by group member John Bird.
Not the Ornate gas lamp.
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