Joseph, Bob Hudson if you recall has a habit of when he was given a coin, he'd turn it over in his hand to ensure it was not foreign! Also His mother worked there for several years in a blue flowered smock and when Bob died, his sister Joan who never married took over the business and then sold up to move south. Bob rode a bike and rode it to work everyday from Victoria Rd East. He drank in the Newcastle Arms. I used to buy a tanner (6d) butterfly net which I used to fish in Hebburn Lakes for Minnow and sticklebacks! If anyone has a photo of the east side of the shop it will show you an advert for Cherry Blossom shoe polish and 2 mice. It was there for years! John Mills may remember that we used to buy 1d redheads on the way home from school, and in the winter, "Winter Nibs". Thanks Joseph for the memories!...