Co op Parliament Street

[Martian 1]

Thanks, once again, for the warm welcome.

I guess that Mick2me did an excellent job as those work benches were still in perfect condition when I left around 1980, (for the second and last time), but that is another story!

Sometimes I rode to Oakdale Rd on my Yamaha FS1E, (and later I had a Kawasaki Kh250 and later still I used the infamous Suzuki GT750 'Kettle - which broke down underneath the railway bridge at Burton Joyce one morning)!

I was very fortunate as I also had a selection of cars, (once I was 17), so I also arrived at the workshops in a clapped out Mini estate, (complete with a brick that served as the handbrake), an old Ford Escort, (Police blue in colour with flamed rear wheel arches and raised rear suspension), and finally a superb Cortina 1600 automatic that was the love of my life.

Sometimes I had to resort to public transport and use the bus and sometimes I would catch the train from Radcliffe and get off at Netherfield & Colwick, (although the long, and very steep, climb up the hill was very challenging)!

[mick2me 3,033]

Douglas Avenue is a good hill to walk up

[LizzieM 9,507]

My school uniform was purchased at the big Co-op on Parliament Street. Apparently it was cheaper than D & P on Friar Lane and Mum got the divi as well !!

[siddha 825]

Success!

Thanks Cliff Ton

I'll scan some more from the book very soon.

My dad used to take my mum, sister and I here for SDaturday lunch when Notts County were playing at home.

Afterwards my mum and sister went off shopping and dad and I used to walk down Arkwright St to Meadow Lane.

The thing I remember most in the restaurant were the crinkle cut chips served in oval silver bowls and the balls of ice-cream in round silver bowls

I remember this so well!!!!!!

I worked at the Co-op on Parliament Street part time from 1965-1967 in the Electrical Department on the 3^rd floor. Manager Mr. Marsh,  Section Head Stan or was it Alec ? ….. they were a great team selling anything from bulbs and batteries to TVs and light fittings. Those weird tills that had pull down levers that allowed you to put customers divvy numbers in.

 It was a cracking time getting tickets for bands in the Elizabethan Rooms, and if you didn’t get tickets you knew enough about the building to get in and out as required……………. I remember going to some brilliant dances including Beatles, Hermans Hermits and Kinks a guy who worked in men’s clothing called George Utting  (Clifton)seemed to know how to get  in and out.

In the basement the record department ……..here worked one of the loves of my life Lesley Kent and her best friend at that time Ingrid. As I recall they worked weekends in the record department as they were students at Clarendon College. I wish I could remember the name of the full time girl that worked there however she was always around at the Dungeon, The Boat/Brit/Union or the beachcomber. Heady times my friends!!!

[mick2me 3,033]

Te full time Girl from Coop Records alongside Rob Smith was Kathy Hemsley.

She certainly went to the Union Rowing club around 1971.

[LizzieM 9,507]

Siddha, a brilliant time to be a teenager, I was a regular at all those venues too. Wonderful memories!

[Stan 386]

My school uniform was purchased at the big Co-op on Parliament Street. Apparently it was cheaper than D & P on Friar Lane and Mum got the divi as well !!

Same here Lizzie M ,school uniform very expensive,I think there was some way it was paid off weekly!

The only thing was the `snobs' knew you bought your uniform from the Coop and not D &P because the gold trimming was like `cord' on the D&P and flat gold ribbon on the Coop version. Ah class distinction again.!

[Sheridan 7]

Success!

Thanks Cliff Ton

I'll scan some more from the book very soon.

Great to see that picture! seem to remember Griffin & Spalding had something on a smaller scale overlooking Slab Square?

[jackson 301]

Loved the Big Co-op on Parliament Street: a great place to take a walk around - no need to purchase. Memories.....................

[DAVIDW 1,681]

Just found a bagful of old stuff from when we cleared my parents house out . Not sure why they had this but the following is from a magazine called the West Bridgfordian from 1954 and coincides with the school uniform mentions .

[LizzieM 9,507]

Gosh, it was very expensive to kit us out. Bigger boys' jacket and trousers would have cost a lot more than a week's wages I should think, at £7 19s 9p. No wonder most of us in those days started senior school wearing clothes we'd 'grow into' !!

[carni 10,094]

The Elizabethan Restaurant at the COOP Notts

Seeing the picture of the restaurant in #122 brought back a memory for me,my sister worked there in 1962 she was training silver service at the Clarendon College,she arranged an interview for me for a Saturday job doing the same,and i was accepted,i found it a bit daunting for a 14yr old so i only lasted two Saturdays.

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Here's the Co-op advert from the back of the High Pavement school magazine ('The Pavior') dated June 1965:

If I remember right you could identify who'd got their blazers from the Co-op as they were a lighter brown than the other shops. Another one - Steeples?? - by contrast were such a dark brown as to look almost black from a distance.

Here's some more adverts from the mag':

[DAVIDW 1,681]

Those were the days .....of low inflation !

11 years difference and the blazers are cheaper and only a few pence difference on the caps and ties .

There is an advert in the West Bridgford Grammar magazine for Sissons too , in fact its practically the same advert .

[Cliff Ton 10,457]

Selling school equipment wasn't really a good long-term bet, was it.

Griffin & Spalding - Gone

Redmayne & Todd - Gone

Sisson & Parker - Gone

Big Co-op - Gone

Only D & P left.

[Stan 386]

Answer >Only sell very expensive gear the rich can afford !!!

Seriously though ,where do parents purchase school uniforms in Nottingham?

[LizzieM 9,507]

But in those days each school had THEIR own uniform, now the children are kitted out in white shirts, grey trousers/skirts and various colour sweatshirts to suit the school dress code, which can be purchased in all the supermarkets as well as the department stores. I was proud of my school uniform and because we didn't have much money I suppose, I even have a photo of me on holiday in Filey wearing my school blazer! Sad or what?!!!! I remember having to go to Sisson & Parker to choose a book as a school prize and also Redmayne & Todd to buy some running spikes. My goodness I was proud of them too!

[Stan 386]

Which school LizzieM? My sports gear was also from Coop (cost again) not posh places like Redmaynes.! I once went into Redmaynes to ogle the cricket bats and met Reg Simpson.

Amazing fact I just read. Reg is still around at 93. Also read he was a pilot in the war in the RAF.Any news on him would be welcome.

[LizzieM 9,507]

Best Grammar School in the county Stan ...... Carlton-le-willows !!!

[hippo girl 1,995]

Think bramcote hills was better Lizzie !!! LOL

[Trevor S 2,003]

Bramcote Hills and Arnold High.........Hooray!!!!

[denshaw 2,871]

School uniform outfitters now in the building that used to be the Porchester pub at the top of Porchester road.

[Cliff Ton 10,457]

And D & P are still operating, but now on Maid Marian Way.

http://goo.gl/maps/kquGI

[mercurydancer 1,104]

For the life to me I cant find any photos of the inside of the old Co Op on Parliament Street. the staircase was wonderful. Does anyone know where it is now? I believe that it got sold off. As a piece of art deco it could have stood its place in any city as art.

Any links or photos to share?

[fch782c 144]

I hope they sold it to someone far far away from nottingham those smoked mirrors on that staircase scared the sh#% $t out of me as a 5 year old