In the days before NHS Direct and Googling your symptoms for a cure, most of us
remember our mother's remedies for our ills. This ranged from the many uses of Vicks
to rubbing margarine on a bump on the head.
I remember us children also getting margarine rubbed on to a burn. Not sure where my
Grandma got that one from but no one seemed to realise at the time that your skin was
actually now frying.
My Granda was a medic in the RAMC in WW1, so he must have passed on this 'remedy'
from his experiences.
I didn't pass on this greasy tradition to my own children (fortunately) as memories
of a throbbing, stinging forehead with your hair sticking to the poorly spot are not at all
pleasant.
Vicks vapour rub had many uses. We remember it getting rubbed on our chests, inhaling it
from in a steaming bowl with a towel over your head and even swallowing a spoonful of
the amazing stuff.
This cured anything from blocked up noses, to sore throats, bad coughs and aching
muscles. It must be good stuff, as of course it's still going today.
There have been a number of Chemists over the years, before the Weldricks that we have
now on the High Street. Each of us remembers things differently but we are almost in
agreement that Gorrils was on Morrell Street in the early 60s and then moved to the High
St, where Kate's Kitchen is today.
There was the Chemist Leslie Walker and the Pharmacist on High St was Mr Lane. Mr Lane was always concerned that you understood clearly what your medicine was for. Cath Reeve worked there for 3 weeks when she first left school and remembers him being rather scary !
He was followed by Mr Stanley.
going to the shop with a small basket when she was only four and lived on Manor Rd.)
being a plumpish man with very dark hair.
Also the shop opposite the bus stop at the Queens was the same owner at that time and
she had to go over sometimes for things they didn't have.
Julie Sullivan remembers that it always smelled lovely inside the chemist shop and getting
Miners makeup from there. (Miners being the name of the company who made it -
though maybe some Maltby miners got there makeup from here too )
Robert Swan remembers Lloyds chemist, High St with the dispensary being round
the back up 3 or 4 steps.
In Doreen's era, the Queens chemist was Walkers, Gorrils was on the corner of Manor Rd,
next to Bowyers.
(Doreen and Hilda remember Harold Gorrill being a very nice man, in the church choir and
carrying the cross)
Everything comes full circle as we know and this well remembered delicacy has gone from
being on the chemist counter for a 1d a stick, then disappearing for many years and then
coming back into fashion again as a real healthy treat !
remember our mother's remedies for our ills. This ranged from the many uses of Vicks
to rubbing margarine on a bump on the head.
I remember us children also getting margarine rubbed on to a burn. Not sure where my
Grandma got that one from but no one seemed to realise at the time that your skin was
actually now frying.
My Granda was a medic in the RAMC in WW1, so he must have passed on this 'remedy'
from his experiences.
I didn't pass on this greasy tradition to my own children (fortunately) as memories
of a throbbing, stinging forehead with your hair sticking to the poorly spot are not at all
pleasant.
Vicks vapour rub had many uses. We remember it getting rubbed on our chests, inhaling it
from in a steaming bowl with a towel over your head and even swallowing a spoonful of
the amazing stuff.
This cured anything from blocked up noses, to sore throats, bad coughs and aching
muscles. It must be good stuff, as of course it's still going today.
There have been a number of Chemists over the years, before the Weldricks that we have
now on the High Street. Each of us remembers things differently but we are almost in
agreement that Gorrils was on Morrell Street in the early 60s and then moved to the High
St, where Kate's Kitchen is today.
There was the Chemist Leslie Walker and the Pharmacist on High St was Mr Lane. Mr Lane was always concerned that you understood clearly what your medicine was for. Cath Reeve worked there for 3 weeks when she first left school and remembers him being rather scary !
He was followed by Mr Stanley.
Jean Whinfrey remembers her cousin Angela working there and can also remember falling down at the fair across the road and her mum took her across to get a plaster.
(Before this the corner shop was Panes, which was a grocery store and Jean remembers
going to the shop with a small basket when she was only four and lived on Manor Rd.)
You could get hair lacquer spray bottles filled up for sixpence in those days !
Eileen Everton worked in Walkers chemist on Morrell St in 1960. She remembers the boss
being a plumpish man with very dark hair.
Also the shop opposite the bus stop at the Queens was the same owner at that time and
she had to go over sometimes for things they didn't have.
Julie Sullivan remembers that it always smelled lovely inside the chemist shop and getting
Miners makeup from there. (Miners being the name of the company who made it -
though maybe some Maltby miners got there makeup from here too )
Robert Swan remembers Lloyds chemist, High St with the dispensary being round
the back up 3 or 4 steps.
In Doreen's era, the Queens chemist was Walkers, Gorrils was on the corner of Manor Rd,
next to Bowyers.
(Doreen and Hilda remember Harold Gorrill being a very nice man, in the church choir and
carrying the cross)
Everything comes full circle as we know and this well remembered delicacy has gone from
being on the chemist counter for a 1d a stick, then disappearing for many years and then
coming back into fashion again as a real healthy treat !
Get it in all good health food shops now, but don't expect much change from a £1.
