Andymiller

Hello Chris and Merry Christmas.I retired in 2004 after going part-time for a year.Would have liked to have carried on for another 4 years doing the part-time bit but left for domestic reasons.Didn`t make the governor grades but stopped one rank below.My wife died in 1996 and if I had gone any higher I would have had to move prisons every 3 years or so and with 3 dogs,3 cats and 2 tanks of fish I decided it made more sense to stay near my family and friends.How about you?Did you stay in the Sheffield area or move around a bit? I must say this forum has brought back memories I thought I had forgotten and made me realise that overall,Baumber excepted,they were pretty good times.Which Co-op stores did you manage?In recent years I have shopped regularly at their Thorne,Doncaster branch.A couple of years ago they moved from their original site,now Sainsburys,to a smaller site in the middle of town.Have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year,Andy.

Hi Chris,nice to hear from you.Missed a comma in my previous post - it was me who worked at Armthorpe.I now live only 5 or so miles from the branch which has changed hands several times since.As regards Mr.Templeman,he did not die but had a really nasty accident with the cardboard baling machine (what deadly things they were with the metal handle swinging back!).The handle swung back and split his head open.It was a really nasty accident and he was off several weeks.I went in as his relief and stayed for a while after he came back,as assistant manager. What was apparrent was how much his staff liked and respected him and how they hated Mr.Firth for the way he treated him,I believe because he was an outsider from another company and not Fine Fare trained.I enjoyed my spell with him - he was a real gent.Hope you are keeping well,best wishes,Andy.

Would Vera have been in her 50`s then,dark hair,glasses and in charge of Fruit and Veg? If so I remember her although I was not there all that long. A friendly woman with a good sense of humour,I remember.

I remember Tony Buckingham`s name but I am afraid that is all,Andy. Also remember Mr.Firth as he gave me the off-licence job. I believe the cook at Firth Park had also worked at either Heathrow or Gatwick and claimed to have a special recipe for trifle.Had a night out with Frank once and stayed at his house overnight as I was playing football the next morning about a mile from where he lived. Had one hell of a hangover next morning but fortunately the match was snowed off. Remember the pub on a Friday night after work? I believe it was called the Wharncliffe Hotel.The one person I could not stand was the area manager,Mr. Baumber.Had one hell of an argument with him on the shop floor at Heeley after which I was sent to Chesterfield and demoted.Left FF 3 or 4 weeks later.Suppose I owe him really!

Hi,Terry. Best job I had at Firth Park was working in the off-licence they bought in Bellhouse Road before they moved it into the supermarket.That would have been about 1971.Spent many an hour in there talking to the girl from the laundrette over the road. Happy days!!

Hi Terry.I was at Stag Roundabout around `67-`68. Also worked at Woodseats with I think Tony Tuck, Attercliffe with Bill Wright, Heeley, Staveley, Wombwell with Chris Corker who later took over Firth Park and Armthorpe.Left in `73 for Hillards but didn`t like it and joined the Prison Service later that year.

Hi,Andy.Yes you are quite right Andy,you did run me home to Wath once. The photo of Marshall Grove was close to where I lived on Riley Road.Moved a time or two since - Rotherham,Wakefield and now Doncaster. Left FF for Hillards early in 1973 but didn`t like it and joined the Prison Service in October that year. Very nice to hear from you.

Just found this site which has brought back many memories. I started at Firth Park in 1968, eventually working in most of the Sheffield stores, Stavely, Rotherham and finally finishing at Wombwell in 1973. I remember particularly Bill Faloona and his "office"-The Homestead pub just down rhe road. Also remember Roger Coker,a real gent.