This week I have taken another look at ‘From Tynwald Street to Tynwald Hill’, a very interesting book written by the late George Waft.

It looks at social history from his youth through to his maritime and nursing career, concluding with his political service of 20 years as an Onchan Commissioner, followed by his election as an MHK and finally as an MLC.

I would recommend it if you can get a copy. It is a very worthwhile read, which I have only covered in a small part here and during last week’s column. Using his words directly, it gives an insight into island life long ago and explains the intricacies of Tynwald in a very easily understood manner.

‘Many people were only able to rent, and few owned their own home. Accommodation was as rare as the proverbial “hen’s teeth”. Houses rarely had bathrooms or central heating with hot running water, so many families would use the facilities at Noble’s Baths in Victoria Street, which provided an abundance of hot water, towels and soap.’

I wonder what soap it was? When we had Moochers’ favourites, some of the older generation preferred carbolic or Wright’s Coal Tar Soap!

George continues: ‘Treats I remember as a child were Ovaltine and Horlicks tablets, liquorice chews, Nibbits, Pontefract cakes and aniseed sticks wrapped in greaseproof paper. Chocolate Ryvita biscuits, pork pies from Bateson’s, Scotch pies and flaky pasties from Elders were also great favourites of the family.

‘If you were ever waiting in the queue at Clague’s, the tripe shop in Nelson Street, you would always be given a piece of brawn.

‘Shopping was always great fun, not like today, where it seems we have too much choice, and fighting for a parking space and waiting in long lines at the supermarket are things I can do without!’

I certainly remember the juicy, hot pies from Bateson’s and treats from Elders, Quirks and any one of a number of family baking and confectionery businesses, but I would pass on Clague’s tripe shop, even with the offer of free brawn!

Back to George: ‘Kissacks, the grocer who used to be on Prospect Hill, would offer you a seat while you placed your order for home delivery, long before Tesco Direct! It was a fascinating place, as I sat and watched the grocer shaping the butter pats with wooden spatulas and filling up the blue paper bags with sugar.

‘The cheese would be cut with a wire cheese cutter on a marble slab, and the bacon sliced on a very large ham slicer, deftly operated by the grocer, who always just managed to keep his fingers free from its razor-sharp edge. He could cut you a slice to any thickness you wished, depending on whether you had someone staying for tea that day.

‘Underfoot was a light dusting of sawdust, and the all-pervading smell of freshly ground coffee and spices filled the air. Biscuits were in large tin boxes arranged in rows at a 45-degree angle so customers could see and pick out their favourites. Our family usually bought Garibaldi biscuits, which are still available today.

‘Tea was delivered to the grocer in large tea chests made of thin plywood lined with tin foil. The tea chests were in great demand and used for storage or by anyone moving house. Nothing was wasted, and recycling was part of everyday life.

‘Grocers were found all over Douglas. Some of these included names such as Pegrams, Home and Colonial, Lipton’s, the Maypole and Manx Co-op, where every shareholder got their ‘divi’.

‘Cretneys on North Quay, Hudsons on Quines Corner, Barrons in Duke Street and at the bottom of Summer Hill, Coupes in Athol Street, Quines at the bottom of Pulrose, and O’Hanlons at Groves Road, Pulrose. Of this group, the Co-op is the only one to survive.’

A challenge to readers: get in touch with details of any shops you miss and why they no longer exist!

Back to the book, in George’s words: ‘A particular fascination for children visiting Tossie Cowins, the draper, was watching the girls taking money from customers and placing the notes in a small screw cup, which was then sent to the cashier via an overhead rail. The change was then returned to the counter by the same method. These cups travelled along at great speed and provided much entertainment.

‘The white £5 note was a rarity and was looked upon by some with suspicion, so much so that, often, when trying to pay for goods with one of them, you might be asked to actually sign your name on the note.’

‘Most grocers had a never-ending supply of Spam, which was a part of everyone’s diet. Come to think of it, very few people used to mention diet.’

Another question here from me… Spam: are you a fan or not? I like it grilled!

George continues: ‘It was the time of ration books containing coupons for sweets, sugar and clothing. Petrol was severely rationed and continued to be so for some time after the war was over. It was also a time when housewives used to queue for oranges, bananas or indeed any type of fresh fruit from abroad.

‘Rumours started that a particular shop had acquired one of those rare commodities, and a queue would soon form. Generally speaking, there appeared to be little we were short of. The short supply of chocolate I’ve made up for since!’

‘On Bonfire Night, fires were built on many street corners in Douglas. There was always a large one at the end of Hillside Avenue and another on the tarmac on Westmoreland Road, outside the soup kitchen.

‘Bonfire Night was a big occasion, with mischief afoot, when the children would steal from other bonfires to replenish their own. There was always plenty of fuel, with discarded household furniture, old mattresses and rubber tyres making up the bulk.

‘On the night, the chip shop in Allan Street did a wonderful trade, selling chips at sixpence a bag. Later in the evening, potatoes were thrown onto the bonfire and cooked on the embers as the fire died down.

‘The blackened faces of the children mirrored the even blacker potatoes, full of bottom ash, light and heavy metals, and goodness knows what else.

‘They were retrieved with burning fingers and eaten with relish, much better than the jacket potatoes commonly served today with tuna coleslaw.

‘It was a busy night for the fire brigade, more so than today, when bonfires are discouraged and more organised. Health and safety hadn’t yet reached Hillside Avenue!’

‘Noble’s Swimming Baths, Port Skillion and the Nunnery River were favourite places for children on a Saturday afternoon, followed by a hot sarsaparilla for tuppence at the herb beer shop in Walpole Avenue.

‘On a weekday, it was home by a quarter to seven to listen to Dick Barton on the wireless. The streets were empty as all the children listened to Jock and Snowy’s latest adventure. The programme would always end with a chilling cliff-hanger, so we would be sure not to miss the next episode.

‘Work was hard to come by, and when you did secure a job, it was usually for life. There was little in the way of finance or manufacturing sectors to speak of, and professional positions were very rare indeed.

‘An apprenticeship was usually all that a school leaver could aspire to, and a university place was something very few dared to consider.’