Water Supply

[Ray]

Ahhh, that explains a lot,... hoarders are the worlds historians, we collect history,.... yes, I am also a hoarder.

I never knew about the collecting of the grocery orders though, I guess because Mum and Dad were at the shop every day no one came to out house. I have two lasting memories of Murchland's shop, the smell, which you never have in today's supermarkets. I guess it was the smell of spices and cheese and all those lovely things you could get which would be carefully weighed out into paper bags, or carefully wrapped and then the contents written neatly on the top in pencil, the other memory was of Jeff Haynes with his white apron, pencil tucked behind his right ear.

I used to avoid old Jimmy like the plague as he always seemed a grumpy old bugger, he didn't even seem to acknowledge us kids and even parents only got a cursory greeting. My contact was usually limited to going into his office once a year to buy my Season's ticket for the pool.

I certainly remember the light green panel van being driven by Brian Carpenter and could tell you some funny stories about it, but better be careful as some of those involved might be reading these pages   I think as you say, they were a happier time when we all had less, but made more of what we had. I dunno about you, but I tend to take a great many things for granted now, things that I would never have dreamed of back then. Every now and then I get a touch of nostalgia and have a little mental trip down memory lane, it certainly makes me appreciate things a little more.

[dianne48]

Ray, had to answer your last comment you know a lot of people had Mr Murchland as an old grump, he was a wonderful boss. Yes he appeared as you say but was one of the kindest men I ever new.
He helped so many poor families of the town, he would walk over to you and say would you please make up a box of goods for Mrs.or Mr. whoever they are in need and turn back to you and say owe you had better put in a few sweets for the kiddies.
When my Mother passed away he was the first one at our door to offer me a job, thanks to him we were able to get on our feet, he helped us back from a dark place and many other Families in the town. He was like Father Xmas all year round, he was one of the good people of the world, bless his heart.

[Ray]

Ray, had to answer your last comment you know a lot of people had Mr Murchland as an old grump, he was a wonderful boss. Yes he appeared as you say but was one of the kindest men I ever new.
He helped so many poor families of the town, he would walk over to you and say would you please make up a box of goods for Mrs.or Mr. whoever they are in need and turn back to you and say owe you had better put in a few sweets for the kiddies.
When my Mother passed away he was the first one at our door to offer me a job, thanks to him we were able to get on our feet, he helped us back from a dark place and many other Families in the town. He was like Father Xmas all year round, he was one of the good people of the world, bless his heart.

Well Dianne, you have certainly taught me something new today, and more to the point, it is something very pleasant to hear. I will certainly see him in a different light from now on in.

I did hear that he was an extraordinarily good businessman and had fingers in several pies, including owning the 4Square Store in Blyth for many years.

[dianne48]

Well there you go Ray you just told me something I did not know, I thought he just owned local never new about Blyth.

It's strange how we perceive a person when we don't know nothing about them and later find out that we missed knowing someone special, because we never took the time to say more than good morning or afternoon. I think I was very lucky back then because when I was growing up I got to know all Dad's customers from his milk round. The wives use to spoil us with sweets and home made cookies, take us inside to fresh home made lemonade. Then when I went to work at Brooks Bros. I new a lot of the customers already from the surrounding farms, I absolutely loved Mrs. Symons and Mr. Growden

When Mr. Murchland sold the store he wiped off thousands of pounds, not only from the disadvantaged but from all walks of life, he was just that kind of man. When people owed him money he never went to get it but walked in with a hand full of groceries because a mans word was his word back then and if they could not pay he knew they were in a bit of trouble.

He just had a grumpy face  , not a grumpy heart.