Grabbing a real bargain with those Green Shield stamps
THE SHOPS, STORES AND RECORD OUTLETS WHICH WERE ALL THE RAGE IN 1975 SUNDERLAND AND WEARSIDE
Who remembers the days of collecting Green Shield stamps?
Or of going to Eastern’s in Union Street to get brand new carpets for your house.
Or even visiting The Footy Shop in Church Lane, opposite the Empire Theatre, to get your latest fitted sports outfit.
All these and more are memories of Sunderland in 1975 and we want your recollections of what you loved most about the retail and entertainment scene in those days.
Let’s start with your memories of saving the Green Shield stamps.
At Moores in Sunderland, you could use them to buy all sorts of gifts depending on how many you’d saved.
“The more you spend, the more you save,” said the logo for the store which had branches at Chester Road, Tunstall Road, Silksworth, Melbourne Place in Grindon, High Street, Easington Lane, Seaside Lane in Easington Colliery, North Road Boldon, Chiswick Square in Hylton Castle and Queen Alexandra Road in Dawdon.
Another promotion for the store said: “The best of good value for you plus stamps galore.”
There were the times where you could even get double stamps during promotion events.
And it was a time when Moores products included crumble cream biscuits for 13 and a half pence, and baked beans for ten and a half pence, it all seemed a great bargain.
If it was a big family shop you were after, how about Fine Fare which had stores at Ryhope Road, Grangetown, Houghton-le-Spring, Seaham Harbour and Durham.
There were plenty of bargains to be had there such as corned beef at 4 and a half pence for 12ozs, or half a dozen standard eggs for 12 and a half pence.
The store had what it called Purse Saver items at the time, and they included prime beef mince at 39 pence a pound, or Danish Cheshire Cheese at 26 pence a pound.
Remember Hintons? they had “Australian apples at down under prices” at 8 apples for 38 pence, family packs of Tudor Crisps at 12 and a half pence and processed peas at 5 pence for a 10oz tin. Ifi t was something a bit more substantial you wanted for your home, what about a trolley nest of tables for £22.95 from Woolco departstore ment in Washington town centre. It also stocked crystal chandeliers for £15. On a similar theme, Alan Share in Blandford Street sold stereo benches in teak veneer or white from £29 and coffee tables from £17. Or if you were decorating your home, Status was a good option in Walworth Way where ceiling tiles were only 38 pence for a pack of 25.
Not all shopping had to be for essentials. Sometimes, it was nice just to get out for a bit of enjoyment.
Who can recall going to Bergs on the corner of Blandford Street for the latest sounds? In 1975, you could grab a bargain for 95 pence such as Gene Pitney who was 24 Hours From Tulsa, Neil Sedaka’s hit Oh Carol, or the Best of Del Shannon.
Or you could make your own entertainment. Turners in Union Street were selling cine cameras for £45 and projectors for £34.50.
Perhaps you preferred a day of looking for the latest fashions.
Over at K’s shop in Fawcett Street, women’s K shoes ranged from £4.99 to £6.50 in a sale,
Binns had a midweek specials sale on with Womble bags at £1 (down from £1.95), and ladies slippers for £1.
Or you could get along to Bambers in Walworth Way where coats were £7, jackets £5 and dresses £3 in a “sensational clearance” sale.
And if you were all done up, you needed to look and smell the part. Hairsprays started from 16 pence and shampoos at 11 pence at the Markworth Discount Stores in Blandford Street.
It also sold men’s hairsprays at 19 pence and bath soaps at 14 pence.
Also on the leisure theme, Sunderland were about to play Carlisle United in the Anglo-Scottish competition. Admission was 70 pence for the Roker and Fulwell ends.
To get around town for all this shopping, how about a new car. The brand new Opel Kadett was £1,358 at the Roker Park Garage, right next to the Sunderland Football Club car park.
How about your own 1975 memories? Tell us what you remember about the mid 1970s.
Email chris.cordner@ jpress.co.uk
“Who remembers the days ofGreen Shield stamps” ECHO REPORTER