His column had just passed its 11th anniversary, so first of all Michael took the opportunity to thank readers for their continuing interest and all their kind comments.
He continued “Still plenty of unseen pictures to show you in the future!
However, now that I get a complete page it is time to show you this marvellous hand-drawn plan of all the shops in Marlow “as in the 1940s”.
It was the work of Fred Bailey, no relation, as far as I know, to Ron Bailey the jeweller and clockmaker, or the Baileys who ran a tobacconist in the High Street and a cycle shop in West Street. Previously just a section of it was used in one of the early “Trip Back In Time” booklets. I would place the date more precisely as very early 40s, and in wartime, as result of a couple of clues.
Mr Bailey lists Atkins in the Causeway, and has added “Later Burgers”. The Burger family took over in 1942. Also, in the High Street, you will find Ryan’s Electrical.
Paddy Ryan was the only wartime fatality in Marlow when killed by a jettisoned bomb whilst repairing a radio north of the town. (Ryans Mount is named in his memory).
His shop closed as result of his death. My guess is that the map was compiled from memory, possibly after the war, rather than from a trip around the streets.
Even though just a little before my time, I have noted a couple of errors and omissions; for example the furniture shop in Market Square was Rupert rather than Reg Batting.
Reg (no relation) was at the hardware shop in West Street. Also, if you are really fussy, there are a few spelling mistakes: I was fascinated by the fact that Mr Bailey, like many old Marlovians, refers to a “chimley” rather than a “chimney”.
Even Tom Goodall, who I can remember, described himself as a “chimley sweep”. He arrived on the job with brushes strapped to his bicycle.
A regular guest on Marlow FM, reminiscing about Marlow in times gone by, is 91-year-old Norah Barnshaw, right.
She tells me she was at school with Fred Bailey, but we have no idea if he is still around. Norah has some nice stories of many of these shops, and I was especially fascinated by her descriptions of those that did not survive into my own memories.
Norah Barnshaw
Mr Bailey’s map measures 24” by 15” and to fill up the blank bits I have added in a few shop pictures from around the same era: Hill’s Basket Shop; Hodges Hairdresser; Gasper’s, Newsagent and Toyshop, plus Compton’s Garage and Cycle Shop.”
