Wartime town was urged to ‘stay calm and keep shopping’ It was ‘Business as usual’ for traders
100 years ago ROCHDALE’S firms were keen to stress it was ‘business as usual’ as the First World War continued to rage.
A string of local companies took out adverts in the Observer telling readers that despite the fighting overseas they were determined to keep prices down.
Ashworths had clothes shops on Spotland Road and Oldham Road, urged readers to ‘keep the flag flying’ adding: “The nation’s motto at present is ‘Business as Usual’. We are endeavouring to do this by making our motto ‘Prices as Usual’.
Aspinals Tonic Food, which was produced in Bolton, boasted how a consignment of their ‘excellent pick-up’ had left for the South Pole with Sir Ernest Shackleton after being tested by the War Office, Meanwhile J Stanworth & Co umbrella specialists of Drake Street predicted: “The war will make great alterations on the map of Europe, but we shall not alter the quality of our ‘Reliance’ umbrellas, going on to add the umbrella would ‘defy the elements much better than the Kaiser has defied the Allies’. A CORONER urged schools to teach their pupils about road safety following the death of a six-year-old boy in a traffic accident.
Jack Sutcliffe Tweedale was killed when he was knocked down on Manchester Road as he returned home from Brimrod Council School.
The youngster died at Rochdale Infirmary after being hit by a car as he ran across the road with two pals.
A jury recorded a verdict of accidental death and County Coroner Mr F N Molesworth said the driver was not to blame for the death, but: “Urged that teachers in schools should impress on children the necessity of looking up and down a street before they attempted to cross a road. At a cinematograph entertainment he had seen an excellent set of pictures which taught children how necessary it was to be careful in crossing roads. It would be wise to exhibit similar pictures in schools.”