Dunstable Yesteryear - Star Wars figures were here

A Hoppanstopper minibus is seen edging out of The Square, Dunstable, in this nostalgic picture of High Street South.

The buses were introduced locally in the mid 1980s which helps to date the photo.

The Toyland business in the foreground became known as the Chewbacca shop by  some local youngsters because it was THE place to buy the latest Star Wars figures. Han Solo and his friends, now collectors’ items, were first produced in 1978.

The Wisebuys supermarket, also in the picture,  replaced the town’s first Tesco store. When this photo was taken Tesco had already moved to a new building, almost opposite Grove House in High Street North, which is now the home of Efes Turkish restaurant.

Tesco in those early days would have been almost facing its greatest rival, Sainsbury’s, which had opened in the building which became (until recently) the local branch of Iceland.

Cash Converters is now operating in the Tesco/Wisebuys premises seen in the photo. The Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet, next to the Priory House gates, has survived all the changes.

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