Letter: Home shopping

Sir: With reference to the letter from John Douch (16 June) about shopping in the days before superstores, I was a child in the Twenties, having been born and brought up in Dorchester. We were a family of modest means, but I never remember my mother carrying heavy shopping.

There was a marvellous grocer called Boons, where I used to take shopping lists for delivery. Farmers, in their carts, from nearby rural areas called with fresh eggs, farm chickens and butter, rabbits and vegetables. At the weekends, the Muffin Man came with his tray, carried on his head, and ringing his bell for custom. My mother would insist on Derby Brights from the coal merchant and Scottish beef from the butcher. Those were the days!

Yours sincerely,

A. C. WARE

Chichester

West Sussex

20 June