Discussion
I stood markets for a few years after I left the RAF in 1984, perhaps up to about 1990ish. Saturday at Spalding, Sunday at Cleethorpes, Monday was Spilsby, cannot think where Tuesday was but Wednesday was Louth and Thursday Mablethorpe. Friday was buying day, Sheffield, Brownhills and Birmingham.
I remember one year when Christmas eve fell on a Sunday, when I left home at 6am to go to Cleethorpes the van was full from back to front and top to bottom and even the passenger seat and footwell were stuffed with gear. Had a busy day, coming home I could see out of the back window through the interior mirror. I was late home, 'er indoors had totaled 'er take from a pitch in an indoor market in Mablethorpe and was well pleased. I stood by the front room coffee table and pulled my wallet from the inside pocket of my leather bomber jacket, then all the loose notes that were also stuffed there, empied both side zip pockets, all four pockets of my jeans and heaved my cash box out of my bag...took us nearly an hour to cash up and sort it all out.
A 'normal' Sunday take was about £500, I brought in just shy of £2400 that day....all cash....and went back to Cleethorpes on Boxing day and took another £400 of 'em!
Happy days, but I'm not really the right sort of mindset to be my own boss, far to soft hearted!
I remember one year when Christmas eve fell on a Sunday, when I left home at 6am to go to Cleethorpes the van was full from back to front and top to bottom and even the passenger seat and footwell were stuffed with gear. Had a busy day, coming home I could see out of the back window through the interior mirror. I was late home, 'er indoors had totaled 'er take from a pitch in an indoor market in Mablethorpe and was well pleased. I stood by the front room coffee table and pulled my wallet from the inside pocket of my leather bomber jacket, then all the loose notes that were also stuffed there, empied both side zip pockets, all four pockets of my jeans and heaved my cash box out of my bag...took us nearly an hour to cash up and sort it all out.
A 'normal' Sunday take was about £500, I brought in just shy of £2400 that day....all cash....and went back to Cleethorpes on Boxing day and took another £400 of 'em!
Happy days, but I'm not really the right sort of mindset to be my own boss, far to soft hearted!
Good times, thanks for all of the stories.
I feel a fondness for the markets - it felt like a outing for us, being given a fiver or something from my now passed away Dad to buy a rubbish BB gun or a dodgy jumper or whatever. I think it just takes me back to the good days spent with him.
Understandably trading standards wouldn't be happy about the tax aspect and dodgy gear, but it's still all available online anyway..
I feel a fondness for the markets - it felt like a outing for us, being given a fiver or something from my now passed away Dad to buy a rubbish BB gun or a dodgy jumper or whatever. I think it just takes me back to the good days spent with him.
Understandably trading standards wouldn't be happy about the tax aspect and dodgy gear, but it's still all available online anyway..
We had the meat van at ours.
Guy would be on the mic, mc'ing to a huge crowd like a QVC salesman.
"How much would you pay for this cut of lamb, not £5, not £4, not even £3 but £2.50"
Someone would collect the guy's money who bought it in the crowd.
Then the butcher would wrap it and throw it into the crowd to the person with the accuracy of a major league baseball player.
Guy would be on the mic, mc'ing to a huge crowd like a QVC salesman.
"How much would you pay for this cut of lamb, not £5, not £4, not even £3 but £2.50"
Someone would collect the guy's money who bought it in the crowd.
Then the butcher would wrap it and throw it into the crowd to the person with the accuracy of a major league baseball player.
Radec said:
We had the meat van at ours.
Guy would be on the mic, mc'ing to a huge crowd like a QVC salesman.
"How much would you pay for this cut of lamb, not £5, not £4, not even £3 but £2.50"
Someone would collect the guy's money who bought it in the crowd.
Then the butcher would wrap it and throw it into the crowd to the person with the accuracy of a major league baseball player.
We still get meat vans up here in Lincolnshire, there's one that does Boston market and it's probably the same one I've seen parked up outside one of the flat roofed pubs in Skegness. Guy would be on the mic, mc'ing to a huge crowd like a QVC salesman.
"How much would you pay for this cut of lamb, not £5, not £4, not even £3 but £2.50"
Someone would collect the guy's money who bought it in the crowd.
Then the butcher would wrap it and throw it into the crowd to the person with the accuracy of a major league baseball player.
I remember as a kid in the early 60s going to the Quayside market in Newcastle - it was huge and so popular that it was just like a human conveyor-belt where it was difficult to even stop at a stall to buy something!
A few years later, we moved house to Chester-le-Street which also had a well-regarded market, abeit not as big as the Quayside, but which drew big crowds from a wide area.
In more recent years, we used to occasionally visit Wellesbourne market, another very large set-up on an airfield very similar to Ingliston near Edinburgh. It was, however full of fake goods and had the constant attention of Trading Standards, Customs and the Police.
A few years later, we moved house to Chester-le-Street which also had a well-regarded market, abeit not as big as the Quayside, but which drew big crowds from a wide area.
In more recent years, we used to occasionally visit Wellesbourne market, another very large set-up on an airfield very similar to Ingliston near Edinburgh. It was, however full of fake goods and had the constant attention of Trading Standards, Customs and the Police.
I would occasionally visit local markets, most of what was on offer was cheap tat I knew I would regret buying when it fell apart shortly after getting it home. A few exceptions, "designer" clothes from one particular seller, very cheap, would last the summer then make good polishing rags. Shimano bits, that's what it said on the box, lasted well.
One Market I do visit regularly is the Oxford covered market. Not sure that is a market, lots of little shops under one roof. Always busy and a bit pricey but I like it.
One Market I do visit regularly is the Oxford covered market. Not sure that is a market, lots of little shops under one roof. Always busy and a bit pricey but I like it.
nismocat said:
I used to go to Bovingdon Market (and the banger racing, and occasionally the prison to deliver food!) but i just read it shut in 2022.
Was really good 20 years ago.
Same, was always an interesting morning out.Was really good 20 years ago.
My local one now is Wellesbourne which appears to still be going strong. Haven't been in years, maybe it's time for a visit and see what it's like these days, although I imagine now the hooky DVD market is dead it'll be a lot smaller
We holidayed alot in Towyn, North Wales and each Saturday or Sunday morning wasn't complete without a trip to the Market.
Sweet stall
Meat van
Fresh veg
Hotel Pillows - 2 for a fiver
Designer knock off socks
Toys - bb guns mainly
Ringtone codes - Phone cases
It's still going and I visit once a year, mainly for nostalgia.
B&M and Home Bargains are the modern equivalent.
Sweet stall
Meat van
Fresh veg
Hotel Pillows - 2 for a fiver
Designer knock off socks
Toys - bb guns mainly
Ringtone codes - Phone cases
It's still going and I visit once a year, mainly for nostalgia.
B&M and Home Bargains are the modern equivalent.
Radec said:
We had the meat van at ours.
Guy would be on the mic, mc'ing to a huge crowd like a QVC salesman.
"How much would you pay for this cut of lamb, not £5, not £4, not even £3 but £2.50"
Someone would collect the guy's money who bought it in the crowd.
Then the butcher would wrap it and throw it into the crowd to the person with the accuracy of a major league baseball player.
Oh yes, I remember they had one of those at Bovingdon.Guy would be on the mic, mc'ing to a huge crowd like a QVC salesman.
"How much would you pay for this cut of lamb, not £5, not £4, not even £3 but £2.50"
Someone would collect the guy's money who bought it in the crowd.
Then the butcher would wrap it and throw it into the crowd to the person with the accuracy of a major league baseball player.
Talking of markets, I worked on the fruit stall of the local market as a kid. The amount of money they made was astonishing!
As a kid growing up in London I remember seeing a bloke selling car polish, He’d have a mini bonnet as a prop and then as the finale he would use a bit of lighter fluid to set fire to it proving how it was protected. Impressed to see 15 years later at Blackbushe the same demo on a mini bonnet. If it was the same bonnet then the polish must have been good stuff!
rek said:
As a kid growing up in London I remember seeing a bloke selling car polish, He’d have a mini bonnet as a prop and then as the finale he would use a bit of lighter fluid to set fire to it proving how it was protected. Impressed to see 15 years later at Blackbushe the same demo on a mini bonnet. If it was the same bonnet then the polish must have been good stuff!
That would be Mer, i used to love watching it toorambo19 said:
My 1st ever job was working on a market stall.
Ridley Road, Dalston, east London.
Worked on a clothes stall, £2 after school on a friday, £4 all day sat.
Brilliant memories.
That's took me back. I used to work on the market in Berwick-upon-Tweed for my dad's mate, Mickey Market (obviously to distinguish him from Mickey Mouse who was normally found propping up the bar in The Schooner). £20 and a Chinese takeaway as payment. Ridley Road, Dalston, east London.
Worked on a clothes stall, £2 after school on a friday, £4 all day sat.
Brilliant memories.
He used to sell household goods and kids toys, back when them oval magnets that made a noise were all the rage.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff