London

The summer season ended in Torquay, furthermore, I had fallen out with my father regarding the way to run an antique shop; so I decided to go to London to get a job. I was nearly 16 years of age.

I had a friend in Hackney, London Fields, prepared to accept me as a paying lodger at the princely sum of 17/6d a week. When I asked my father to give me the train fare to London, he refused, as he did not want me to leave. I had very little money as he was only paying me £1 per week. However, I did have an old gearless bike. So I packed up my bag in the middle of the night setting off on my cycle to London, 200 miles away. I got as far as Salisbury Plain on the first day where I saw a lovely little Bed & Breakfast sign at a village named Mere. The lady looked at me saying it would be 7/6d for bed and breakfast with a nice hot dinner a ‘thrown in’.
I actually fell asleep whist I was eating the meal (which was superb) waking up the following morning in bed dressed only in my underwear. She must have carried me up the stairs as well as undressing me!

After a splendid breakfast, I departed to London to my friend’s house 70 Miles away. He had a wonderful and welcoming family.

I arrived in London at about 3 pm with my poor old bicycle nearly falling to pieces. I made my way to Hackney in the East End to stay with some friends. I was to pay 17/6p a week for sleeping, breakfast and dinner. At that time it was very hard to make a good living. Typically, a man would get about 30 shillings a week to keep his family.

I was determined that I would not ask my father for any money as at that age (16), I felt I could conquer the world. I still had over £1 left as my capital and so was confident that I could secure some work the following morning.

I was told that in Chapel Market, Islington they were looking for workers, so I took the tram to Islington (that cost me 6d) securing a job as a shoe salesman for 25/- a week, plus commission; approximately an additional 5/- Shillings per week. I took the job and started the following day.

This was during the beginning of November; I was surprised to find the shop busy, even at 9 am. My hours were very long; from 9 am until 8 pm with a half hour off for lunch.

Everyone was impressed at my sales ability. When I asked about the commission, I was told to apply later. I never found out what that meant. I worked out my expenses. Trams cost 3/6d per week, stamps, 1/9d, lunch was given to me by my lodgings costing 17/6d, leaving me with about 3/- a week spending money! I had no choice but to kept going as I could not afford to be out of work.

The boss was a big fat slob. When business slackened off he would become angry. At first he praised me and gave me the Gents dept, on the first floor and told me I was doing a great job. But during quiet periods it was best to keep out of his way.

He used to creep up the stairs and fling open the door to make sure that I was dusting the boxes and not loafing about ‘on his time’. However he was so heavy I could hear the stairs creak when he approached, so I had a warning.

After Christmas, business became really slow and he would pace up and down the shop cursing at all the staff (about 4 of us).
I decided it would be amusing to play a little trick. I stood on a ladder keeping busy dusting some heavy boot boxes which were resting on the top of the half opened door. I could hear the stairs creaking, so I knew he was about to check what I was doing. When he flung the door open all the boxes fell on his head! He did not believe it was an accident and so I got the sack, pronto!

In the papers the following day, I noticed an Advert for a Shoe Salesman in Lambeth Walk, South London. The firm that was advertising was a group of shoe shops named ’Leaders’. There were, at that time, about 15 branches dotted in the south of London.

So off I went at 9 am to apply for the job. The Manager was completely unlike my last boss. When I told him about my last job including the ‘accident’ of the boots falling, he burst out laughing. He asked me how much I was paid muttering, “Tut-tut”. He then offered me 35/- a week plus a good commission - a fortune to me. He told me I could start right away.

I was welcomed in. He introduced me to all the other staff and everyone was happy and pleasant. I was a good salesman without being pushy and the manager was very happy with me.

I was now able to earn commission on any shoes sold over 15/- a pair, which came to another 10/- a week. I was now earning over £2 a week; a wage a married man would bring home for a family - remember this was in 1936!

I loved working in that shop, everyone was so kind and especially the manager, who told me I was the best salesman he had ever had.

I was now able to save up enough money to buy a new suit, underclothes and shirts. At that time, there was a company selling ‘nearly new’ suits. It was run by two pushy salesmen, full of the ‘gab’. They chose a loud check suit for me, telling me that it was only 30/- , that the owner had died after ordering it; adding that the real price I should have paid was £3. Being only 16 years of age, I was impressed and decided to buy it. They insisted that I put the suit on as my old one was too tatty to wear.

On the way to the tram however, it started to pour with rain and both my new suit and I became soaked. Sitting on the tram, I noticed a horrible smell emanating from my new suit. I can only compare it to a smell of horse dung. I also noticed that the sleeves were getting shorter by the minute with the trouser legs also shrinking fast! The lady sitting next to me on the tram quickly moved to another seat – I did not blame her. I should have gone back to the outfitters to complain, but I was too embarrassed. With my now decent wage, I could now afford the 50/- tailors and get measured up for a ‘good’ quality suit.

After working at the shop for three months I received two wage increases which together with my commission made me a rich young man. I was transferred to serve at one of the biggest branches in The Cut, Blackfriars, again with a pay rise.

The atmosphere at the new shop was completely different. All the staff there seemed sad. They thought that I was sent there to spy on them by Head Office, especially as I was now considered to be a favourite of the directors.

My mother, by this time insisted that I return to Torquay to help her run the Hotel, consequently I gave in my notice. One of the directors of Leaders told me that they were planning to open a new shop near Elephant & Castle; furthermore, he had me marked down to be its manager. He told me it was the first time they had offered a manager’s post to anyone as young as I was!

I pleaded with my mother to let me stay in London, but she was adamant that I return. She explained to me that she was not well so I was needed at home. After receiving an excellent reference, I left London, (by train this time), to start my new career as a waiter in my parent’s hotel.

Incidentally, the last Leader’s shop I was in was situated in ‘The Cut’, Blackfriars, London. During the beginning of the ‘Blitz’ this was completely destroyed, with some loss of life.