Sweet memories of childhood in Shrewsbury
Monday 5th December 2011, 10:59AM GMT.
To a generation of sweet-toothed young Salopians, ‘The Little Hut’ in Shrewsbury was a mecca.
It was the haunt of a certain Mr Dukes, who ran it as a sweet shop. And, remarkably, being blind was no obstacle to him. Among those with fond memories of Mr Dukes’s sweet shop are Richard Griffiths, who is now in his 70s, who lived in Racecourse Lane, Bicton Heath.
Although he moved from Shropshire in the 1960s, he still visits his cousin in the county town quite frequently, and returns to his home near Swansea with lots of Shropshire Stars, with which he keeps up with all the news.
“In the years 1956 through 1960, my father and friends used to frequent Mr Dukes’ shop quite often. All were amazed how he was able to lift down jars of sweets from the shelves and weigh-up accurately the sweets requested.
“Richard’s son, Michael, said: “My father says the reason for visiting Mr Dukes was prior to visiting the Kings Hall Cinema. He doesn’t think the cinema had changed its name to The Century at that time.”
Memories for Mr Griffiths came flooding back after seeing a picture of “The Little Hut” in a book called “Lost Shrewsbury”, by Shrewsbury historian and author David Trumper.
Mr Trumper’s picture shows the sweet shop in 1960, with a poster nearby advertising the appearance of Emile Ford at the Granada.
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