It was sad to see another business close in the Main Street: 'Trade Secrets' is just another example of the demise in business.

Pembroke Main Street has seen many businesses come and go and, as a Local History Society, we are always interested in recording any information on businesses past and present.

It is also interesting to look back at the old trade directories to discover the great array of businesses which once thrived in Pembroke.

The following information is supplied by Vicki Haggar who is the leading Main Street researcher in our society, collecting and recording changing times here.

The Star

'Trade Secrets', formerly 'Seconds Ahead', stands on the site where in the 1940s there were two shops, 'Cash and Co Footwear' and the 'Star Supply Stores Grocers and Purveyors'. 'The Star' (as it was known) stood next door to Waterloo House and we are fortunate to have an early photograph of this once thriving business, one of the first of the chain stores. The staff can be seen sporting long white aprons and overalls standing in front of shop windows jammed full of goodies. A notice in the right hand window reads 'Salmon is cheaper than meat'.

Vicki told me than she can remember being sent up there with the ration book in the 1940s to get sugar and dried fruit. Nothing was already weighed out or pre-packaged. You could have as much or as little as you wanted. There were white marble counter tops and glass display units and the assistants were all in immaculate white jackets and aprons.

The manager then was a Mr Thomas from Monkton. His parents had a fruit and vegetable shop at the top of the Main Street opposite the castle, next to where the Castle Garage once stood. Both have since disappeared, replaced by sympathetically designed flats.

Various supermarkets have appeared on this site since the Star, among them 'George Masons', 'International' and lastly 'Kwik Save' before the clothing seconds shop, 'Seconds Ahead'.

Beddoes

Another lovely old photograph we have is of 'Beddoes', now Lloyds TSB.

It also occupied what is now another, separate business 'Wisebuys', wholesalers and retailers of best quality fruit, vegetables, flowers and delicatessen and speciality foods.

Attractively presented and much frequented by locals, it just goes to show that quality pays. The business has been established here at 19 Main Street for some 25 years, having taken over from Randall Cox Photographers.

'Beddoes' was run by two brothers: Colonel Arthur and Mr. James Beddoe.

Vicki's memories are of a very smart Mr. Beddoe in the shop with white hair and a white handlebar moustache. They were the last of the Beddoe family to run the business: an Ironmonger's business which can be traced back to 1881 and recorded in the Wales Census.

Contact

If you have any stories, photographs or feedback for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonkonhistory.org.uk

Next events

Tonight (Friday, February 15) - AGM and talk by Simon Hancock, 'The last man hanged in Pembrokeshire', 7.30 pm, at Monkton Priory Church Hall. Entry free and open to all.

Friday, March 1 - 7.30 pm, at Monkton Church Hall, Dewi Sant evening to celebrate St. David's Day. Supper of Welsh fare (bring a bottle if you wish) and there will be entertainment as well. Tickets £3.50.

Followed by Saturday, March 2 - 10.30 am, coffee morning with exhibition and old film show.

All proceeds of these two events will go to Monkton Priory Church - please give your support to help keep the doors open of this wonderful, ancient Church.