
Second Instalment
Other supermarkets and grocers in the 1970s sold food, washing powder, aluminium foil… Fine Fare was in a different league
The shop looked gigantic. My mum used the two Self Serve grocers in town. They weren’t much bigger than a corner shop. One of my “Aunt Marys” (my dad’s cousin) worked in the grocery. I’ll tell you about both my “Aunt Marys” in another post if you like?
Fine Fare opened the year I started secondary school. My mum made the first visit, came home full of enthusiasm, so we had to get down there
Now this was the early 1970s. Shops were not open after tea time. Fine Fare broke the mould – they were open late
Late, but not in a way we’d recognise in 2022. Late meant 6 o’clock most days, with wildly decadent, Friday late night shopping till 7 o’clock
So a family outing to Fine Fare was arranged. It must’ve been early winter, almost my birthday, since I remember choosing gifts
My birthday presents that year were:
1. A rubber plant (true fact!)
2. A patchwork suede shoulder bag (I wanted the suede patchwork skirt – it must’ve been too expensive)
A year later I was a music obsessed teenager with a particular liking for T.Rex
Fine Fare sold 99p compilation records at the check out. I bought the one pictured above
Later in my teens, Fine Fare was the place I shopped for groceries, including products I had only read about. But you’ll have to keep reading for those stories
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy my reminiscences
Follow my socials if you like:
Instagram – one_basket
Facebook – One Basket Kelso