Mother was a butter patter who worked at town’s first Co-op
“SHE was a ‘butter patter’, I think its just a brilliant name for a job.”
A Looking Backer who spotted a photo of her mother’s old workplace has been in touch with her memories of Loughborough’s first Co-op, and even brought in a picture of her mum that she believes is outside of the old building that her mum sent to her dad while he was away during World War Two.
Olive Newton, 65, of Melton Road, Barrow-upon-Soar, said that her mum told her that she used to be a ‘butter patter’ at the Co-op in Woodgate.
Olive said that her mum used to ‘pat’ the butter before it was wrapped in paper and sold in the shop.
She said: “She always said that was the reason that she had such soft skin! I think she must be in her 20s in the photo, my mum and dad got married in either 1937 or 1938, I’m not sure, but I am sure it was just before the war and then they got split up when my dad got sent away.”
Olive said that she recognised the old building in Woodgate in a photo that her mum sent to her dad - Maurice Arthur Hopkins - while he was in the army.
She said that she wasn’t sure when the photo was taken but it was definitely sent during the war because on the back of the photo it reads: “Little me on the shop step, love to my sweetheart always, Maurice.”
Olive said that it was definitely on the steps of the Co-op because her mum didn’t work in any other shops, and after Maurice came back from the war she stayed at home to look after Olive (when she was eventually born) and her six other brothers and sisters.
Olive said that her dad was in the army during the war, and served in a number of countries including India, Italy, the Orkney Islands and he was even on the beaches at Dunkirk.
Do you remember the old Co-op in Woodgate?
Maybe you even used to work there too and remember Doris?
Or maybe you have any love notes or letters that maybe you sent during the war, or maybe your parents did?
If you do please contact Liam Coleman on 01509 635806 or email liam.coleman@trinitymirror.com