Peggy Goring
Peggy talks about shopping in the middle of Woking

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There was a lovely chemist in the town, which was called Wearing’s. It was run by the father and daughter - lovely shop. I must admit I was only saying the other day, ‘Do you remember if ever you had a cough you used to go and see Mr Wearing, and he used to make up his own mixture?’ He wouldn't be allowed to do it now, of course, and so much advice and that, you know?

Did it work?

Yes, I think it did, there was something in it, and it wasn't all that unpleasant if I can remember. Always used to go there for it, always.

Then opposite him was Gammons, the haberdashery, and in the High Street there was Woolworths and Robinsons, another lovely drapers, you could get anything in Robinsons. And so many grocers shops, small grocers shops. There was Perks, there was Home and Colonial, there was World Stores, Maypole. The one in the town which was always called a higher class grocer, you know - Central Stores I think it was called.

I loved going into Sainsbury's because they always used to beat the butter, and that was lovely, great big blocks, and then they used to get their cutters and take a piece off and then pat it into shape, and put it on the scales and wrap it up. The cheese was done the same, great big cheeses, you'd have the fascination of seeing them cut it with the wires. And they used to do lovely corner pieces, so only on one end you'd just get a square of rind and all the rest was just cheese. Of course, all matured beautifully. And the bacon was always, you know, you picked your piece and you told them what thickness you wanted, and they'd do your rashers on the bacon machine. All them kind of things. It was fascinating to watch.