Bilbraborn 1,594 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 My wife and I loved wandering round Toby's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I was always afraid of knocking something over in the glassware area. My old man once did, he cursed and swore so vehemently, blaming the staff for putting it in the way that by the time they got over their astonishment we'd carried out a tactical withdrawal. We never went back again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 618 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I heard somewhere that if you do break something accidentally in a shop then they can't force you to pay for it. Similarly I think those little signs you often see in antique shops that say if you break something you have to pay for it are not enforcible. The shop and/or stall holder are supposed to insure themselves against such mishaps I believe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vintageann 66 Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 I used to love going to Toby's...a proper shop. But one thing used to drive me crackers was they expected all browsers to be potential shoplifters. The assistants, on the ground floor at least, were positioned inside a rectangular counter/display. Whilst you browsed, they moved to stand in front of you. As you moved, they moved. It became ridiculous at times, the temptation was always there to deliberately shuffle to and fro around the counter to see how they kept up! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Radford Boy 26 Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 I used to walk past Toby's every day on the way to work from 1960 to 1961. I was an apprentice electrician on the City House building on the corner of Friar Lane and Maid Marion Way. I think City House is now a hotel. I was in Nottingham last September. Sad to see how many places have disappeared. I tried to find the old Imperial Hotel but couldn't. Has that also gone? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doreen 15 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 I am 73 yrs old and I started work at Toby's age 15 on may 9th 1957 I knew Joan Peck very well although she started a lot later than me .I worked there till June 1965 when I left to have my first baby Toby's then was owned by Mrs Blythen and her Nephew Mr H R Hartley was the managing Director and a miss Juet was the Manageress I Started in the Basement selling soap powders etc for me they were great years and I can still name a lot of the staff from those days . Anyway I left in 65 had 2 boys then went back in 72 when boys were both at school I went back in the office and I was there till the original Toby's closed in 1980 .and I was kept on with the new owners till I left to become a warden of Sheltered. Housing in 1984 . I loved my time at Toby's and have a lot of stories of my years there in fact I'm still in contact with a friend I worked with there she started there in 1959 .and we meet up for lunch every Thursday we have been friends for about 55 yrs . 1 10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,162 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Nice one Doreen,and welcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sue B 48 1,226 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Welcome Doreen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Welcome to Nottstalgia Doreen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,600 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 The only thing I remember about Toby's was that my Mum bought me a tiny teddy bear there when we were in town one day. I was about 7 I think. I've still got it although he looks a bit scruffy now. He's about 3" high with moveable arms and legs 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doreen 15 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Toby's was a Department store very well known for its Cut glass and china although it sold just about everything . Even when I started in 1957 about a month befor Nov 5th it sold fireworks A week before I had to fetch a explosives certificate can't remember where from .then every evening about half hour befor if closed I had to put all the fire works in a big metal dustbin ant take it to the top of the building and lock it in a room there was nothing else in the room . Then fetch them down every morning it was a chore but it had to be done . . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doreen 15 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 My dads older brother, my uncle, was a graphic artist at Toby's for most of his working life, he had a major stroke in his early 60's then passed a little later. He was responsible for all the display artwork and signage around the store. I knew your uncle very well . Eric Harrison he was a really nice chap his office was in what we called Rogers offices it was where all the buyers etc had there offices . Eric was a really hard worker and he was always very pleasant and had time for everyone although I was only 15 when I started and quite shy . Eric always had time to talk to me .they were very good years at Toby's . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doreen 15 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 My grandma, Joan Peck, Used to work at Toby's department store right up until its closure. She worked in the china department and then for Royal Dalton department when she was head hunted. Does anybody have any photo's of it or want to share your memories. I remember Joan Peck very well .she was a very nice lady always got a smile on her face and ready for a good laugh .by the time Joan started I had moved off the counters and worked in the office so if the staff needed bags of change for there tills they had to come to my office which was called the Cash desk , another part of my job was answering the switch board , and all the staff had to hand their hand bags into me at the office they weren't allowed to take them on to their counters this was of course before Toby's supplied them with lockers . 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StAnnsChas 12 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Remember Tobys very well, being taken in there when I was a child it was a lovely store, shame we had to lose it along with many other shops,businesses and buildings around Nottingham city centre. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor S 2,003 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Welcome to Nottstalgia, Doreen...I look forward to sharing your memories... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,429 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 Welcome aboard Doreen. I was only ever in Toby's once or twice as a child but it sounds like a good workplace. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted February 20, 2015 Report Share Posted February 20, 2015 I knew your uncle very well . Eric Harrison he was a really nice chap his office was in what we called Rogers offices it was where all the buyers etc had there offices . Eric was a really hard worker and he was always very pleasant and had time for everyone although I was only 15 when I started and quite shy . Eric always had time to talk to me .they were very good years at Toby's . Welcome Doreen, and thanks for that memory, I only knew uncle Eric as a child but yes he was a nice man, I lost touch with his wife and family after he died, often wonder how they went on and where his daughter is now. Shame how we lose contact with families as we become older. Sorry to go OT. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BilboroughShirley 1,120 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I used to love going to Toby's...a proper shop. But one thing used to drive me crackers was they expected all browsers to be potential shoplifters. The assistants, on the ground floor at least, were positioned inside a rectangular counter/display. Whilst you browsed, they moved to stand in front of you. As you moved, they moved. It became ridiculous at times, the temptation was always there to deliberately shuffle to and fro around the counter to see how they kept up! Hi, I loved going in Toby's and as a teenager I thought the make up counter was the most interesting. The only item I ever bought was a bottle of Revlon pink pearl nail varnish. I also liked the coloured glassware but when I wanted such an item I bought it at the Co-op at a much more reasonable price! At that time I was not pestered by staff as you describe. From 1969 to 1972 I worked in the Farmer's store in Exchange Walk. This was a student holiday job. The management told us very firmly that we must never ever approach a shoplifter and we should just tell our department manager if we saw someone trying to steal. Also we were told not to approach customers and say "can I help you". If anyone broke the store rules they got the sack. It was quite strict but a great place to work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mary1947 2,083 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Toby's Pearson's Griffins, Burton's and many more. All Gone is it the sign of the times? Do we have any decent department stores left in Nottingham? apart from John Lewis. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
carni 10,094 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I haven't shopped in Nottingham for a while so just wondered about 'Debenhams and House of Fraser'. Do you still have those two. Or are they gone as well? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Debenhams is in the old Griffin and Spalding building on the corner of Market Street and House of Fraser is upstairs in Victoria Centre...or that's where they were last time I was in Nottingham (which is probably over a year ago now!!!!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I used to love Tobys. My first dinner set (wedding present) came from there. John used to work there on Saturdays, as a yoof, and remembers the china rattling as he walked through to his department! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Debenhams and H of S are still here, along with John Lewis's. Three of the best shops in town. Oh, Zara too, nearly forgot that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Commo 1,292 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Started working in 1963 in Vernon House next door to Tobys and regularly used to pop in to buy a Terrys Waifa to have with my morning coffee. An Aunt bought a cut glass fruit set from there for a wedding present and we have just the large bowl left 47 years later. Welcome to the Forum Doreen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,468 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 Do we have any decent department stores left in Nottingham? apart from John Lewis. Poundland; 99p stores; Poundworld. Money shop. Nail bars. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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