DAVIDW 1,489 Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Interesting . The most likely reason would have been a Courtaulds connection . Steada Raywarp was part of Courtaulds and they had many clothing divisions and you were probably drafted in to help with merchandising one of their other brands . I can't think offhand who had the clothing concession in GEM but there was probably a Courtaulds link. My wifes first job there was on the tights and stockings bar and she was a Kayser Bonder consultant . Kayser Bonder also owned by Courtaulds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Commo 1,288 Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Davidw, many thanks for #24, I must have missed this when you first posted but it don't arf take you back. In 1964 when we were there then it was so terribly modern, whilst the pic shows something from another era !! Where have the all the days gone to? it seems like just a few years back Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Tell me about it ! Its a bit heavy going but if you've a spare 5 mins I did a youtube video using those still photos and some text on the original chain in the USA and Canada that no one else seems to have researched. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1mGrYnfz0Q Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siddha 724 Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 Dave did you work with Stewart and John Anstey? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 siddha , sorry those names don't ring any bells . I left in 1977 and for virtually the whole of my time there worked on the non-food sections . Where did they work in the store ? Can't remember if I posted this on here before but there is this photo from the mid 70s of some the non-food staff , (me with 'tash) . Looking at the signs , when you could buy a Qualcast Suffolk Colt Petrol mower for £59 and a Punch for £69 . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 May as well post these photos that were from the ASDA in house newspaper of 1977 featuring the West Bridgford store . You never know someone googling might be pleased to see a photo of themselves (or their grandad / grandma !) Close up-This one the checkout operators This one Non-food soft-goods staff This one management staff . Store manager Russell Fanaken on the far left . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sheridan 7 Posted June 28, 2013 Report Share Posted June 28, 2013 My mum worked there part-time when i was a Kid must have been around 67? seem to remember was it the first centre to have late night trading as early as the 1960's not everyone had a car in those days so they were quite forward thinking Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted June 28, 2013 Report Share Posted June 28, 2013 Sheridan , you are right it was the first centre to have late night opening , not only that but it was also the very first out of town shopping centre in the country . First to have free parking, a petrol station , free bus , car wash, travel agent , hair dressers,etc etc. Initially it was just late nights on aThursday and Friday till 8pm. They still maintained the local half day closing on a Wednesday ! Though later probably when ASDA took it over they went to being closed all day Monday . Sunday trading was still decades away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 BUMP Next week its coming up to the 50th anniversary of the opening of GEM Supercentre on Loughborough Rd in 1964 (now Asda). That building though replaced by a new store in 1999, had the distinction of being the UKs very first out of town shopping centre complete with petrol station , restaurant , tyre bay etc. Some will say it was the start of the decline of the high street but my interest as mentioned previously is that my dad was in charge of the construction and I worked there from the beginning , as a Saturday lad and stayed on for some 13 years . Tried to get Asda interested as I would have thought it would have been good PR for them, as by buying GEM it was estimated it gave them a 5 year lead over other supermarket chains in out of town shopping . However they don't seem interested . Not sure whether it will be in the Post or in Bygones but I think the Post are possibly running a story about it within the next week . Would be interested if anyone sees it . 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Booth 7,359 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I'm surprised that Asda weren't interested because it would have been good publicity for them. Here's a link to the Nottingham Post site, DAVIDW. http://www.nottinghampost.com/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Thanks Michael , I will keep checking their website but not every story from the paper makes it to the web . I have actually contacted Asda on three different occasions about it and got nowhere . I have a feeling their PR people are on the young side and don't really understand the significance so have given up with them . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 8,985 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 A few more GEM photos I hadn't seen before on someone's Flickr thread https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=old+photos+west+bridgford&espv=2&biw=1335&bih=709&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ETRnVKG2E87navOCgMgM&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=YaKgngBsrcVtlM%253A%3BQf9p6k7uLXpKgM%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%252F8340%252F8252524693_a986b484bf_m.jpg%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.flickr.com%252Fphotos%252F73451759%2540N05%252F8252524693%252F%3B240%3B160 Click on the main thumbnail, but also check all the smaller images to the right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,500 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 I remember the free bus service to Clifton operated by Nottm City Transport. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
... 1,408 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Was that horse and cart cat fan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,500 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Nah, they wre the low bridge buses if I remember correctly. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 864 Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Yep - they would have to be. Nothing else would fit under the bridge on Wilford Lane. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Thanks Cliff Ton for the link to the pictures . Some I have already used , one of the bus ones with permission of the owner . Some photos that show up are ones posted on this site by me . Cheers ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 4,564 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Article in today's Post, about the latest Bygones story regarding GEM. http://www.nottinghampost.com/Opening-time-UK-s-superstore/story-24558381-detail/story.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
... 1,408 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Served petrol there 70s,sqirt of red ex 1d. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Great , thanks for the heads up on the story Katyjay . Just phoned my brother and as it happens he has bought todays Post and has seen the article and is saving it for me . Cheers ! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,489 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Strangely the GEM article has been repeated in this months Bygones ? (According to my bruvver). He tells me there is also a piece on famous Notts folk though he says there are some omissions . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hoonaloon 1 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 I have fond memories of shopping at Gem in the mid to late 1970s with my parents and grandparents. My grandad used to pick us up in West Bridgford from Clifton and we'd all shop together as we didn't have a car. I remember the black and white buildings on Loughborough Road, still there now. Food in Gem was just left in boxes on the shelves and not 'presented' as it is now. I found it all a treat and a great trip out! Happy memories. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 13,927 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 David just picked up on this thread,and if you were there in 64 can you remember a lad with the surname carty? Â Think first name doug not sure, anyway was working with me at the time and left Marsden to join gem Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 8,985 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 There's also another thread about Gem and ASDA here  https://nottstalgia.com/forums/topic/10485-gem-and-asda/#comment-150974  Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 13,927 Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Thanks cliff-ton................think i found Doug Carty,...........on#30.....3rd from right middle row.........and 31#Â 1st on left bottom row........smart chap in suit with long hair............could be wrong as its over 50 years..........perhaps David W....can confirm? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.