cockayne

Hi Hillsbro, Please be patient. Writing this history is probably be about two years away from completion. Your interest is encouraging. Cockayne

Dear Charlie616 Sorry about the delay in replying. My father, Jimmy Cockayne, was the MD of Cockaynes store during the war. I was only three and, being so young, blissfully unaware of the worldwide disasters of WW2. After the store was flattened, it must have been a real struggle to start trading again. I suppose that someone had the foresight to keep the names and addresses of about 500 staff at another address because every scrap of paper at Angel Street was burnt. Also all the stock was destroyed and there was a general shortage of goods to sell and rationing. So the task would be to find alternative premises and retain as many staff as circumstances permitted and restock with what could be obtained. I know that the firm was almost bust because my father recounted how they had to tour round the branches on Friday to collect the cash to pay the wages. By 1946, there were branches in all sorts of locations, some quite bizarre. Millinery and fashions, Ladies shoes - 1st floor Grand Hotel: Lady's and Children's Outfitting, Overalls and Neckwear -Cinema House and Glossop Road: Furniture, Bedding at 125 London Rd: Wools, Cottons and Craftwork threads and Millinery at Broomhill: Furnishings and Carpets, Gentleman's outfitting at the Grand Hotel ground floor: Linens and piece goods, Haberdashery, Leather goods, Perfumery at the Cinema House: Glass and China and Ironmongery at 212 &214 West St: Electrical department at 194 London Rd: Restaurant on top floor of the Blind Institute in Mappin St: Hairdressing And Beauty treatments at 417 Ecclesall Rd. After obtaining licences for scarce building materials, planning consent and raising extra capital, it was possible to build the first two floors on the new store in Angel St and open in January 1949. The other three floors were completed in 1955.

Hi Xenia I know Max Cockayne as he was known. He is not related to our family as far back as I can trace. Before Porter Wright, he was the proprietor of White Favell and Cockayne, who traded in Church street close by the Cutlers Hall, wine and spirit merchants and cigar importers. You will understand that I cannot discuss any personal details about Lomax Cockayne on Forum. John Cockayne

Thank you to Greybeard, hazel, hillsbro, ginger, poppins, ironmonger and annie gray for sharing your memories. It seems that they were mainly happy ones. If I get round to writing a history of the store, the experiences of the people that worked there will merit a chapter or two. Keep ypur memories coming please John Cockayne

Can any one help me with prewar memories of the staff or photos of the original store in Angel Street, which was bombed flat during the Sheffield blitz? I am gathering material for a history of the store. John Cockayne