END OF AN ERA

[TC]

Well, it looks like my suspicions were right.........
Remember a while ago, I posted about Vaseys fishmongers having removed the John Wayne photo from their back wall......it\'d been there as long as I can remember and I used to go in there as a kid. I thought it strange that it\'d gone and had the feeling that the shop might be closing down.

Well....it is

It\'s been there for over 60 years and Malcolm.....the guy who runs the shop, is retiring after being the owner since 1955.
He\'s hoping to sell the shop as a going concern, but with people today wanting everything all nicely pre-packed from supermarkets, I doubt it will remain a fishmongers. It\'s the only \"proper\" fishmongers in South Tyneside and it will be a sad day when it finally closes.

Along with Malcolm, his wife Audrey and assistant Pat, will be sorely missed by everyone who has bought their fresh fish there for decades.

I know it seems like a \"daft\" thing to harp on about, I know that \"times change\", but Vaseys has \"ALWAYS\" been there: I remember going in with me mam every Saturday for kippers, prawns, cod roe, winkles, or whatever for our Saturday tea. It was part of my life as a bairn and it\'s been part of my life in more recent years....going in every Friday for my \"3lb of fresh mussles and a box of squid, please\".

It\'s sad to see it go and it\'ll be missed by many.

[willywetegg]

Lol is that why you showed me the best kept secret in South Tyneside mate. Better get me backside down before they go.
On a more serious note I know exactly how you feel. I have lived in Consett all of my life. We lost all of our best shops years ago. We still have a few decent shops here but not many and those we have are not as good as they were, well apart from one I think.
If you have a goodun use it, if not it won\'t be there to use.

Jim.

[TC]

As I said, Jim....I\'d had my suspicions.
Just found out for definite on Thursday (when I was in getting my \"3lb of fresh mussles and a box of squid, please\").......confirmed in the Gazette tonight.
Another part of local tradition bites the dust.

Along with Saturday trips to the Grainger Market (an adventure when I was a bairn), using me pocket money to buy Airfix kits and soldiers, Kent Walton introducing the wrestling on World of Sport at 4:00pm....the visit to Vaseys on a Saturday afternoon was just one of those things which HAD to be done.
Spent many a Saturday tea time watching the wrestling with me mam, dad & nana (she lived with us) whilst eating our kippers, prawn legs or digging the winkles out with a pin.
Now.....along with me mam dad & nana......it looks like Vaseys is also gonna be just a memory.

[willywetegg]

Saturdays trip to the Grainger market. That brings back the best memories. I used to go there with me Gran, she used to know all the best spots in \" the town \" that would keep a youngun like me happy for a full day. Of all of them the Grainger market was the one for me. The smells, the sights and all of the people rushing about. What can you say mate.

Jim.

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

I used to work in the Grainger market as a youngun ....OOOH the smells lol

[Tadpoleman]

I guess that you have to know the place to appreciate it !!
Will be missed by me i walk past and look in every day
bert

[Stores]

Lot of feeling in that last sentence Tony. There\'s a few of us who\'ve been there.