Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Rock around Wellgate clock this festive time
AFTER a trip to my dentist in the city centre, there I was with a few hours until school pick-up.
It was the perfect opportunity to have a wee wander and do what I talk about so often here – support our shops instead of clicking away online.
First up, the toy shop in the Overgate. With kids’ parties back in full swing, the present cupboard was empty.
At check-out, I had a trip down memory lane with two members of staff.
Kids these days, we agreed (as no doubt the generation before said about us) seem to be all about screens and computer games. Things were simpler when we were kids.
“Remember, the clock in the Wellgate?” I asked. Their faces lit up. Like me, they remembered crowds gathering on the hour to witness the characters come to life to chimes.
We doubted kids would be as spell-bound these days, keen to get back to their 4D movies and gadgets.
I still had plenty of time, so decided there was only one thing for it. I’d walk to the Wellgate to see the clock.
It must be 10 years since
I’ve set foot in the shopping centre. Once, the place to be and go, it had the best shops under one roof.
Maybe you still regularly visit the Wellgate – or like me, maybe you rush around the Overgate end for bits and bobs when you can. I feared the worst for the Wellgate, that it would feel tired and depressed, knowing how many chains had vacated.
But I was very pleasantly surprised. The first thing I noticed was how clean and bright it is.
Christmas decorations are tasteful and quite beautiful, like giant silver chandeliers glistening from the ceiling.
On the ground floor, B&M boasted great ‘2 for £20’ deals on toys in the shop window, that any kid would be happy to open.
Next to it, a kids’ clothes shop called Funky Little Monkeys had gorgeous outfits for babies and young children, from tu-tu dresses to pom pom woolly hats.
Upstairs, there’s a book shelf where you can leave your last read and take another.
I had a pang for the oldies – BHS, River Island where my cousin Jill worked, Woolworths for single records and pick n’ mix.
But there were some decent offerings – a Superdrug, charity shops where I spotted a lovely, glittery dress that would be perfect for a Christmas party, a stall with cool hoodies, a Burger King, a gym that looked modern and busy and a cafe with plenty of customers. There was a buzz to the place. It wasn’t heaving but tables were full and shop tills were ringing. One day soon, I want to visit the library where many an hour was spent cramming for exams – an experience shared with many pupils, then and now.
And then... the grand finale – the clock beloved by generations of Dundonians. And it worked! Granted at quarter past the hour you only get a mini version of events, with one figure doing a mechanical jig, but I’ll be making a family trip for the full works soon.
You never know – the kids may agree with me, that the Wellgate clock ain’t got nothing on Xbox.