Dunstable Yesteryear - Landmark local shops

The Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal begins this week, so now is an appropriate time to feature a particularly nostalgic photo of a previous Remembrance Day parade in High Street South, Dunstable.

The procession is pictured on its way to the war memorial in Priory Gardens, passing in front of some shops which were once local landmarks. The local branch of Boots the Chemists, for instance,  was based in the high street until 1966, when its branch moved to the newly built Quadrant shopping centre.

Fred Moore, who ran the drapery store next door (the photo shows his name on the shop’s blind), then seized the opportunity to expand into the former Boots premises. The much-larger Moores store which resulted is still fondly remembered.

Before Boots arrived, the historic building was once the home of the James Tibbett stationery and printing business where Dunstable’s first newspaper, the Chronicle, was produced. The building is empty at the moment despite recent renovations.

Further down the street are some other famous businesses. The International Stores was based in the tall building which later became a branch of William Hill, the bookmaker. F.W Woolworth can be seen nearer the crossroads, close to the Dunstable branch of Gibbs and Dandy, the ironmongers.

Older Dunstablians will remember the police officer seen at the head of the procession. He is Inspector Bill John,  who would regularly march with considerable style at the forefront of such events.

Yesteryear is compiled by John Buckledee, chairman of Dunstable and District Local History Society.