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Tuesday 25 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE: JESSIE AND CHARLOTTE


I came across an article by our brilliant author, Stuart Miller-Osborne which he had written a few years ago.  I was so taken with it that I thought you ought to read it and hopefully, get the same pleasure from it as I did.  Stuart has been writing for years and I must say, I enjoy each and every one of his articles because he writes so passionately.  You can actually lose yourself while reading his works. 
Rita


Jessie & Charlotte


It was with sadness, that earlier this year I noticed the obituary of Jessie Tait in The Guardian. Having already a great interest in the works of Susie Cooper and Clarice Cliff  I soon discovered the works of Jessie Tait and Charlotte Rhead. Although both were very talented, they are a little overlooked.

Jessie Tait (1928-2010)

Dorothy Jessie Tait  was born in the heartlands of the Potteries in Stoke-on Trent on the 6th March 1928 the youngest of three children. Jessie was from a working class background and in those days many people, no matter how talented ended up in dead end jobs in factories and the like. Jessie was lucky, at thirteen she commenced studies at the Burslem School of Art. It was during this period that for a while she became assistant designer to Charlotte Rhead. However this was not a success and she joined the firm of W R Midwinter in 1946 aged eighteen.

By that time the war had been over for a year or so but the country was exhausted by the conflict. My mother noted that although the precious peace had been gained the whole country was grey and the savage winter of 1947 did little to help. As with the fallout of World War One it was almost a natural reaction that things needed refreshing.

Roy Midwinter, the son of  WR Midwinter around the time decided to take research trip to the west coast of America and not long after became aware of the works of  people such as the Hungarian Eva Ziesel (Who is still with us at the grand old age of 104 at the time of writing). The overtly fussy designs were going out of fashion. People wanted something new, more streamlined. They wanted the clutter replaced. In a sense people wanted to breathe. When I  watch movies from the 1950s (especially some of the Alfred Hitchcock ones) what strikes me more than the plot is the design, the feel of the 1950s. You can almost feel the environment breathing again, you can almost taste the freshness in the fashions, the cars and the designs on the time.

In time Roy Midwinter designed a new set of shapes for some of the plates and cups. The plates resembled the oval shapes of the televisions of the time and this was complemented by quiet unfussy cups.  This new range was launched in 1953 and Jessie started creating the new patterns, although initially she had misgivings about the new shapes. She thought they might be considered too radical.

Although we might not know them by name some of Jessie’s designs became icons of the era. Homeweave (which resembled a gingham tablecloth) and Red Domino were two fine examples. She also with her Fantasy range ventured into the territory of Joan Miro, the Spanish artist with the lively lines and spirals of his work.

Jessie was able as with Susie Cooper and Clarice Cliff to identify the pulse of the times. Her Zambesi design with its zebra stripes (and the occasional splash of red) was in my view slightly reminiscent of certain of the abstract expressionists of  the time. It is a design that we have all seen and recognise and if we are of  a certain age, we can remember these designs in the magazines of the day.


Those who knew Jessie found her a modest and very practical woman who moved with the times. As the 1950s moved into the 1960s then as with everything tastes changed. To some extent the brave new world of the fifties began to feel stale. As a certain prime minister noted at the time “ You have never had it so good ” .  Many homes had televisions, some now familiar household appliances were becoming mass produced. Society had appeared to become more liberal. The Lady Chatterley prosecution had failed. A minor incident involving a girl from near Windsor, an MP, a Russian diplomat and a swimming pool at Cliveden had helped to bring down a Government. There was a massive slum clearance programme  and people were to live in Le Courbusier’s cities in the sky. The consumer wanted different shapes and designs and in view of this Midwinter introduced a new range of shapes in the 1960s

Gone were the streamlined shapes of a decade before. New, more cylindrical shapes were introduced and Jessie created designs such as Mexicana and Sienna to name but two. However, her Spanish Garden was the most memorable .I recently saw some examples of the Spanish Garden range  but still cannot really make up my mind about them . Maybe it is because I was brought up with them in my childhood, but deep down I think it is a longing for the freshness of the fifties designs, again it is personal taste.

Jessie married in 1970 and around this time completed her final designs for Midwinter which was named Nasturtium. Although I have not seen any examples for a while, if my memory serves me correctly it was a rather bright orange floral pattern which was very much of its time. At this time Midwinter was taken over by J & G Meakin  and subsequently by Wedgwood and really the freedom of the designers including Jessie was curtailed with a more corporate approach . Jessie moved to Johnson Brothers (another part of the Wedgwood empire) in 1974 and as far as I can see remained there to her retirement in 1993.

Jessie’s designs were like pieces of music on the wireless. You recognise the piece but cannot put a name to it. Her designs are very evocative of 1950s and the 1960s. It is strange to consider that what was then thought to be the state of the art is now treated with a soft nostalgia.            


Charlotte Rhead (1885-1947) 

I have always considered Charlotte Rhead to be a modern designer, but she was actually born a generation before Jessie Tait (Indeed in the same year as certain David Herbert Lawrence) and some years before both Susie Cooper and Clarice Cliff.

Charlotte was born into a family that had strong connections with the pottery business. Her father Frederick Alfred Rhead began his career at Mintons as a pate-sur-pate (paste on paste)  artist and became well known around the potteries . Her elder brother Frederick Hurten Rhead also became a well known pottery designer in the USA.

Although she was sickly child suffering from a severe gastric illness and shortly after that a broken leg which caused her to miss a great deal of schooling by the time the new century arrived the Rhead family were living in Fenton and Charlotte and her sister Dollie were studying at the Fenton Scholl of Art.

She started work at Wardle & Co in Hanley (where her brother was the art director). She did not stay long but it helped to develop her skills. By 1912 when she was twenty-seven she had had experience as an enameller, a tile maker and a designer.


It was during that year that Charlotte’s father was appointed art director at the famous company of Wood & Sons. She fine tuned her skills in the following years and by 1922 her name was beginning to appear as a back stamp as Lottie Rhead Ware

In 1926 Charlotte joined Burgess & Leigh and her design output was prolific as ever. Oddly enough there was a major fire at the Woods Crown Works which make have helped her to make her decision or she just felt it was time to move on. Burgess &  Leigh were so excited by their new appointment that they commissioned a full page advertisement in the Pottery Gazette. She selected a skilled team and from this time her name was appearing on back stamps . She was making her mark in the industry.


As the thirties dawned Charlotte was to be found working for Crown Ducal Ware and in the following years she was producing a large number of designs that were popular both in the UK and overseas. She was also a talented businesswoman who understood the marketplace. She developed new glazes (and lustre’s) and her snow glaze received a very favourable reception at the time.

The decade however ended on a sour note as Charlotte was diagnosed with cancer. She received treatment which was initially successful and she continued her career returning to Woods again in 1942. She worked here for the next five years, but her cancer returned once again in 1947 and sadly Charlotte died at the age of sixty two on the 8th of November 1947.

Although Jessie and Charlotte worked together, I have not been able to discover much detail about that period. Both women appeared to have been very modest (although Charlotte was noted as being quite retiring) but their designs were by the accident of time poles apart. Whilst Jessie Tait was associated with the designs of the 1950s and 1960s Charlotte Rhead designs were from the Deco period (although here she was eclipsed by Clarice Cliff and her bolder designs) Charlotte’s origins lay to some extent in the Arts & Craft movement and Art Nouveau.

Although a generalisation, there is something very biomorphic about a number of her designs. There is an organic feel to the designs which is absent to a great extent in most of the works of the time. Although Deco grew out of the Nouveau movement to some degree there is something very traditional about her designs. If you view one of her plates, for instance, a Charlotte Rhead has the feel of the past. Whereas a Clarice Cliff immediately identifies itself as a product of the era.


As with Clarice, Charlotte used bright bold colours but the feel and the look is different. In comparison to Jessie Tait the difference is total (as obviously it would be). Jessie’s designs are for a fast advancing (and to borrow from Aldous Huxley) brave new world and these were likely to be found in the homes of the immediate post war generation. Whereas Charlotte Rhead’s work is more timeless and whilst just as likely to be found in these homes they give the feel that they have always been there. Some of Charlotte’s work is unmistakably Deco and of the period but this lingering feeling (well for this writer at least) does not go away.

Had Charlotte lived beyond 1947, would her style have changed to reflect the new shapes and designs ? This is a hard question ,but I believe that her work would not have changed to any great extent. She would have taken in the shock of the new and in her own way incorporated it into her work.

Although their paths only crossed briefly both Jessie and Charlotte, in their own fashion, contributed to the fascinating history of ceramics during the twentieth century. 
Stuart Miller-Osborne


For all the news read our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk









Friday 21 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE VISIT BY MADEMOISELLE


WELCOME MADEMOISELLE


We really enjoy meeting our visitors from around the world and this lovely lady from France was no exception.  She was in rather a hurry but bought this beautiful piece of vintage material, posed for a photograph with Hungerford Arcade co-owner, Adrian Gilmour then rushed off before I could write down her name.  I will have to be a lot quicker in future!
Rita




For all the latest news go to our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk

HUNGERFORD ARCADE BARGAIN HUNTERS' RETURN


BARGAIN HUNTERS' RETURN
TO
HUNGERFORD ARCADE

As many of our regular visitors will know, we at Hungerford Arcade quite often play host to a number of different television programmes. It’s always a pleasure to welcome in the contestants and presenters of shows such as Bargain Hunt and The Antiques Roadtrip.

If you are a fan of Bargain Hunt, you will know that the programme is made up of two teams, the Reds and the Blues, each team having to get the best deals possible to make a profit at auction. Obviously, we are usually informed well in advance of an upcoming visit from the team, so what a surprise when these two crimson clad bargain hunters came through the door!

Having taken part in an episode of the programme just weeks earlier, Ashleigh and George Tinson enjoyed their experience of the Arcade so much that they came back for more – this time without the horde of cameras and microphones behind them!  Deliberating carefully over this large copper tray, they were tight lipped about what may or may not have happened in the saleroom at Cirencester – the scene of the final showdown!  But, by all accounts they had a marvellous experience in Hungerford and the Arcade in particular! They highly recommend being a contestant on Bargain Hunt and say the possibility of a profit at the end of the day is nothing compared with the experience as a whole. If you would like to take part in the show and get hold of your very own Red or Blue Team jersey then just fill in the application form on the website:
Alex Rogers

Bargain Hunters: Ashleigh & George Tinson



 For all the latest news go to our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk






Monday 17 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE MYTH OR MEMORY

If you happen to be in London around 
the 17th to 22nd March, why not pop down to Craft Central in St John’s Square and see Hungerford Arcade stallholder, Jane Corbett’s first London exhibition.  She will be resident for 6 days showing her decorative yet discerning mixed media sculptures.  Jane’s curious creations range from fragile porcelain and intricate textiles to botanically inspired sculptures in wax, paper and wire work all housed in antique glass domes, display cases and cabinets.

Jane lives and works in Hungerford and has run her own millinery business in Hungerford for 15 years.  Her clients include HRH the Duchess of Cambridge and she made Mrs. Middleton’s hat for the royal wedding. 
So, as you might imagine the exhibition will feature a sprinkling of millinery, but don’t expect anything as literal as a wearable hat!

Works in one section of the exhibition, including a velvet lined box housing inexplicable instruments, suggest that Jane has rediscovered artifacts belonging to a fascinating and largely overlooked 19th century collector known only as TM – but that is another story in itself.

The exhibition is called Myth or Memory and is on from 17th to 22nd March at Craft Central, 33-35 St John’s Square, London EC1M 4DS.
www.janecorbett.co.uk


For all the latest news go to our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk


Saturday 15 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE WALKING WITH BARTHOLOMEW

Our wonderful author, Stuart Miller-Osborne writes the most fabulous stories which I know a lot of you wonderful people all around the world enjoy reading.  Well, here is another of Stuart's gems which makes fascinating reading.
Rita  
WALKING WITH BATHOLOMEW


It is said that if you stood in Hungerford High Street and threw a stone in any direction that it would land in the countryside that surrounds our town. Although I would not recommend this, as it might upset the local wildlife this statement is very true. We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in Southern England. From the bleakness of Salisbury Plain to the rolling beauty of the Marlborough Downs, from the mysteries of the Savernake Forest to the poetry of Richard Jefferies Liddington Hill.
You might just get up one morning and head in the general direction of the countryside, with no real plan in mind and stumble across what you may and maybe research what you have seen and found on your return. I believe I have heard this referred to as free-walking. Or maybe you will use a map either physically or on-line. There are many maps on the market each very good in their own way but do you sometimes long to be just that little bit lost?  Really, about half way between the worlds of free-walking and Ordinance Survey. 

Well there may be an answer at hand, treat yourself to an old copy (1910-1925) of a Bartholomew’s Half-Inch Map covering the area you wish to explore. Bartholomew’s a familiar name but you cannot just put your finger on who they are and where to purchase them. Well if you want an up to date Bartholomew’s map then they are still available although now to be found as a trade name under the banner of HarperCollins (Collins Bartholomew). But that is not so much fun; modern maps maybe provide too much information and remove the romance of walking a little. Sometimes you want to look at that mysterious mound in the meadow and wonder at its past and not be informed that it was just spoil from the latest by-pass. 

But what of Bartholomew’s who are they and why is the name imprinted on the consciousness of anybody born prior to the nineteen-seventies? Well the answer is to be found many miles from Hungerford, in Scotland.

It all started with a George Bartholomew (1784-1871) who worked as an engraver in Edinburgh and started the cartographic dynasty. His son John Bartholomew Senior (1805-1861) founded the Bartholomew company in about 1826 and twenty years later he produced the memorable General Atlas of 1846. Another two John’s, John Bartholomew Junior (1831-1893) and his son John George Bartholomew (1860-1920) really brought the company to prominence and soon it was publishing its own researched copies.

Later John’s also helped to cement the companies name into our memories. For the record these were John Ian Bartholomew (1890-1962) and a member of the fifth generation of the Bartholomew’s John Christopher Bartholomew (1923-2008). 

Whilst the early Bartholomew’s would have been atlas’s possibly on a larger scale it was really a change in the recreational habits of the Victorians that noted the needs for more intimate maps. The Industrial Revolution had produced cloying diseased towns and cities and certain members of the population were beginning to want to explore what was left of the green and pleasant land. The bicycle was beginning to make itself felt and the ideas of Mr Marx and Mr Engels were beginning to revolutionise the way people thought and the way they worked. This said it was going to be a number of years before the average working man would be able to get up and go and explore the countryside. 

If you wanted to explore parts of Scotland then by 1875 Bartholomew’s were publishing its individual folded half-inch series. In 1897 the company added the England and Wales series which were an instant success. Colour was being used to provide more detail (The Ordnance Survey maps were still using the black and white one-inch maps). These maps were very accurate and by using a larger two miles to an inch format the whole presentation was easier to read and use. 

But how do you find these early maps and how do you recognise the issue. Well in some ways we are back into John Land again. The early maps from 1897 onwards were brown of cover with the beautifully unwieldy title of Reduced Ordnance Survey for Tourists and Cyclists and the area covered (Devon for instance) was noted on a printed sticker pasted over the middle of the cover. Although a little hard to see there was subtle classical feel to the cover which is very comfortable to the eye.

By 1904 the title was reduced to the New Reduced Survey for Tourists and Cyclists these covers were also blue instead of brown and the maps were cloth backed instead of made of paper as the brown 1897 ones were. This simple change of material also explains why you can quite easily find one of the Bartholomew Blues but may struggle to find a Bartholomew Brown. Although Bartholomew Blues date back to c 1904 there is evidence that the Bartholomew Browns did linger on to 1911, maybe longer.

The early Bartholomew Blues also had advertisements noting other Bartholomew products and also a guide to the sheet numbering. If for instance you wanted to explore The Lake District then you knew which Bartholomew’s map to choose. Also as cycling became more popular then additions were added for cyclists such as hints as to the quality of the roads also the Cycling Touring Club logo appeared on these maps from 1904. Whether you were on two wheels or two legs your Bartholomew’s was becoming more and more valuable. 

Quite a few of us remember the slightly later Bartholomew maps which had a more colourful cover than the 1904 editions. They were still Bartholomew Blues but there was the use of orange lettering as well as the CTC logo which was much more prominent. This new more familiar style emerged around about 1930 and lasted for a number of years before changing again and again in line with improvements in printing techniques and presentation. If you purchased a Bartholomew map in the nineteen sixties or seventies then the map you would have purchased would have been radically different to the one your father would have purchased a generation earlier. 

Recently I purchased a Bartholomew map of Salisbury Plain dating from between 1910 and 1920. It is interesting to look at it. You could still reach Marlborough by railway as well as alight at a choice of two Savernake stations (High Level and Low Level) for onward exploration through the forest. The Forest Hotel (now residential) was there for your overnight comfort and although the Kennet and Avon Canal was in decline. I believe that The Bruce Tunnel that runs under the GWR was still in use.
There was a tiny village on Salisbury Plain called Imber which had existed since before the Domesday Book which by its remoteness was mainly a village where agricultural folk lived. If you take 1920 as a benchmark then this quiet little village had only twenty three years to live as the army took it over during the war and to this day have not returned it to its rightful owners (there are open days but apart from the church and a couple of other buildings the village is derelict). 

In 1920 with the help of your Bartholomew’s (and maybe the weather) you would have been able to take refreshment at the Bell Inn (I am told that the building still stands) as you travelled across the plain. 

This is the beauty of my map; I can see Wiltshire and West Berkshire as the people alive at the time would have seen it. Hungerford is shown on the map and geographically has not changed much but in other parts of the area major roads and motorways have appeared. The railway network has withered (Grafton and Burbage railway station, next stop, no more) and where there were meadows there are now houses.

Villages such as South Marston (the home of Alfred Williams) and Coate (most notably connected with Richard Jefferies) were some miles from the town of Swindon and my Bartholomew’s showed this to be true. As we know today both villages are really only glorified suburbs of the town which is a little sad. 

But where do you purchase these wonderful maps? Well it is easier than you might think, if you go into most middle market antiquarian bookshops then you will probably find one. Antique shops and arcades are a good point of reference and of course the internet. I was very lucky when I picked my Bartholomew’s as the first two I found were of Hampshire and Salisbury Plain. If you are looking for a specified area then you might need to search a bit. 

The later Bartholomew Blues (1930 onwards) are obviously easier to find but the earlier Bartholomew’s are not that rare (although you do not see the Bartholomew Browns that often). Prices vary considerably, I picked my two up for a pound each, but I have seen them priced for more. The condition of the map also is a consideration. But I think if you are willing to pay between five and ten pounds then you should be able to pick a good Bartholomew Blue

It is here the fun starts, pack your sandwiches, lock your children away and send your dog to a cattery. Choose your area and either catch a train to your starting point or start walking from your town. You should set yourself two rules:

1/ Always take notice of where your Bartholomew’s takes you (unless you find the M4 or the like blocking your progress). Try to envisage where the map would have taken your grandparents.Where they would have stopped and possibly stayed, what they might have seen and heard. I have in my travels been surprised how much has not changed in this area. The barn noted in 1911 is the barn you see in 2014. The small country lane ten miles from Marlborough is still the leafy quiet country lane ten miles from Marlborough. 

2/ Always take your mobile. Bartholomew is a good companion but as you must remember is advanced in years and sometimes you might just a helping hand from this modern age.

Recently I walked some twelve miles with Bartholomew towards Swindon partially using footpaths and sometimes the main road. My destination was Liddington Hill as I wanted to sit where Richard had sat some one hundred and fifty years ago. The map helped me find it easily (although I was aware of its location) and as I sat on the grass looking down I closed my eyes and thought of the description that my Bartholomew’s had given me. There was no motorway scarring the landscape at the base of the hill. All that could be heard were the birds Richard had described in his books and all that I saw that day were the meadows that Bartholomew had described as they retired quietly towards the distant town of Swindon.   

Stuart Miller-Osborne









 For all the latest news read our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk

HUNGERFORD ARCADE A BIG THANK YOU

When we had the 6th Battalion REME in Hungerford for their welcome home from Afghanistan parade.  In the background making sure all was well were the police.   They did a fabulous job and they even found a few minutes to have some photographs taken with Hungerford Arcade co-owner Adrian Gilmour and myself.  They were great fun as you will see from the pictures we took and we thank them very much.  

We would also like to thank a young man, Charlie Ogilvy who celebrated his 8th Birthday on Monday.  Hope you had a wonderful day Charlie.




Charlie Ogilvy now 8 years of age

Adrian "It wasn't me Officers!"

For all the news read the latest edition of our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk


Wednesday 12 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE: WATERLILY BEAUTY SALON

WATERLILY BEAUTY SALON
BLACK ROCK, AUSTRALIA

A beautiful young lady visited Hungerford Arcade with her parents, Mike and Carol.  Daughter, Clare Martin came over from Australia on holiday to spend time with her parents. Adrian and I had a very interesting conversation with her and learnt that Clare went to Australia five years ago and worked as a Beautician in the Waterlily Beauty Salon at Black Rock. After a year, she bought the business and now has three employees whom she was in the Arcade buying presents for. Clare said one of the girls loves antiques and they will each receive a beautiful gift on her return. 
Rita

Beautiful Clare Martin with
Arcade co-owner, Adrian Gilmour

For all the latest news, read our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk



HUNGERFORD ARCADE 1766 LADLE

LADLE MADE IN 1766


This ladle was made in 1766 in London by James Tookey and features the “Onslow Pattern”. An interesting point to note is the join ¾ of the way up the handle. The technique used is called a half-lap joint that was more common in carpentry. Technology at the time of manufacture would not have allowed for the handle to be cast in one solid piece of silver, so the half-lap joint was employed. Difficult to see and impossible to feel, the joint is as strong today as it was the day it was made.  
 Alex Rogers










For all the news visit our website for the latest edition of our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk

Sunday 9 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE WELCOME HOME REME

WELCOME HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN
6TH BATTALION REME

What a fabulous day we had when the 6th Battalion REME came to Hungerford.  The soldiers were so organised it was quite spell binding.  They came to town and set everything up just like they would a military operation. They bought their amazing vehicles, guns of all types, special clothing and more. It was brilliant and everyone was thrilled by it all.  The children all had treats and were truly mesmerised by everything going on around them.  Some even tried on the special protection vests, helmets and were shown how some of the guns worked.  All the soldiers were very friendly and enjoyed talking and answering questions.

The parade started from the War Memorial at 1.30 precisely, travelled along Priory Road and then down the High Street to the Town Hall where the salute was taken by General Sir Mike Jackson to the accompaniment of the Hungerford Town Band playing the Regimental March.  After the salute the soldiers turned into Church Street where the Library car park became a parade ground where the soldiers were joined by their wives and families. The soldiers looked every bit the British Army as they marched proudly through the High Street. The crowds came early and lined both sides of the road, cheering on the troops as they marched through the town. 
Rita



HUGE 34 Ton Support Vehicle Recovery
This is a much loved vehicle known affectionately
by her crew as "Rufty Tufty"
Sgt. Swatheridge lived in her for 28 day in Afghanistan!

Proud Charlie Ogilvy
8 years old on Monday 10.2.14

Captain Gemma Smith with
Hungerford Arcade co-owner
Adrian Gilmour

Stuart Durie of Armouries
All Army Weapons Systems

Rita and L/Cpl. Kenan Dervisoglu

L-R Stuart Durie, the Bellman of Hungerford
Rita and Cpt. Gemma Smith

The Crowds lined Hungerford High Street

The Crowds lining Hungerford High Street

The Crowds lining Hungerford High Street


6TH Battalion REME
marching to the Town Hall where
General Sir Mike Jackson will take the salute



For the latest edition of our Newsletter, please go to our website at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk


Tuesday 4 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET

ROYAL ENFIELD
500cc BULLET

What a wonderful surprise we had when a young man, Jack Shackleton (I love his name) arrived at Hungerford Arcade on a stunning, black 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorbike.  It was obviously his pride and joy and people just could not help but stop and admire it.  This beauty took us all back to a bygone age when Royal Enfield and many other great British motorbikes were on our roads.
Jack spent four months in India and travelled around the country on a Royal Enfield.  He then went on to Thailand for two months, but could not stop thinking of the beloved Royal Enfield he left behind in India.  Jack is now home and two weeks ago, his dream came true when he purchased a beautiful Royal Enfield Bullet 500.  You will see from the photographs its a match made in Heaven!
Rita
L-R Hungerford Arcade co-owner Adrian Gilmour
Our very own Penny Browne and
proud owner, Jack Shackleton

Had to have by picture taken with lovely Jack
and his Royal Enfield Bullet



Adrian feeling very nostalgic

Adrian would love to go for a ride!

Royal Enfield Bullet 500

You can still buy a Royal Enfield as it is now being made in India as was this beauty.

Catch up with all the latest news in our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk




HUNGERFORD ARCADE: WELCOME SOLDIERS BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN

HUNGERFORD ARCADE 
WELCOMES HOME
SOLDIERS FROM AFGHANISTAN
SATURDAY, 8TH FEBRUARY
PARADE STARTS AT 1.30 pm


All the staff and stallholders at Hungerford Arcade are proud to welcome home the 6th Battalion REME.  There will much to see so do come along and support our very brave men and women on the 8th February.
Rita

Some 250 soldiers from the 6th Battalion REME will be marching through Hungerford in a Homecoming Parade this Saturday, 8th February.  The parade will start from the War Memorial Gardens at 1.30 pm, travel along Priory Road and then down the High Street to the Town Hall where a salute will be taken by General Sir Mike Jackson to the accompaniment of the Hungerford Town Band playing the Regimental March.  There will be much to see. Welcome them home with a big cheer!



General Sir Mike Jackson

For all the latest news go to out Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk



Sunday 2 February 2014

HUNGERFORD ARCADE COW & GATE

Another very interesting piece of food history 
at HungerfordArcade.  Hope you like it.
Rita
                      COW & GATE

In 1904 Dr. Killick Millard, medical officer of health for Leicester, asked the company to supply powdered milk to help feed children of poor families. In 1908, the resultant high-protein "Cow & Gate Pure English Dried Milk" was first marketed on a large scale. In 1924 the company developed a special export version for tropical climates, and from this time registered the secondary Dried Milk Products Company Ltd to commercially wholesale various dried milk products to commercial food manufacturers. Renaming the entire company Cow & Gate in 1929.
Rare Cow & Gate
"Baby's Money Box"


 During the 1930s, Cow & Gate worked with medical clinicians to scientifically develop specialised formulas to cater to infants with special needs, including:
  • Frailac: for premature infants

  • Allergiac: for babies sensitive to certain constituents of cow's milk

  • Cereal food designed to start babies on mixed feeding at an earlier age



For all the news and articles read the latest edition of our Newsletter at www.hungerfordarcade.co.uk



HUNGERFORD ARCADE FORCE FOODS RECORD


FORCE FOODS

At Hungerford Arcade, we are no strangers to the rare and wonderful artifacts that relate to the food industry.  Here is a little gem which I am sure you will find interesting.
Rita

Force, first produced in 1901 by Force Food Company, one of three American companies owned by Edward Ellsworth was advertised using a popular cartoon figure called Sunny Jim. Force was the first commercially successful wheat flake cereal. The product was cheap to produce and had a good shelf life.
The first advertising copy for the new product described the cereal as "The Food That is all Food", the advertising images showed rosy-cheeked children, and it was sold in a box decorated with images of muscular men wrestling with chains. Perhaps because it was not initially targeted at a well defined market, it did not sell well.
In late 1901 Minnie Maud Hanff, a freelance jingle writer, invented the character Jimmy Dumps, a morose character who on eating the cereal was transformed into Sunny Jim. Dorothy Ficken produced line drawings, and Hanff produced light hearted jingles describing Sunny Jim's transformation. The advertisements appeared in magazines, on billboards, and on the sides of urban trolley cars from May 1902 through to the fall.
The campaign was wildly successful. Force was originally produced in a single plant in Buffalo, but by early 1904 the Canadian Grocer reported that there was one more Force food mill in Buffalo, a third mill in Chicago and one in Hamilton, Ontario, producing a total of 360,000 packages per day.



Force Foods Sunny Jim's Record
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