MARGERY Halsall was the first to get in touch over the photo of the old Swift's store.

It was Lionel Swift's grocer's shop on Westfield Street on the opposite side to Beechams. That passage on the left led to the streets where she lived.

Star reader Monica Roberts remembered Lionel and his mother. Lionel was a councillor in that bygone era when most were businessmen and served for no remuneration.

And Eileen Cole rang me to say she remembered the excellent pork pies the shop sold and the Swift's house in Nutgrove.

And Phil Hughes emailed: "My grandparents lived at 94 Westfield Street, where I also lived until I was five and which is now occupied by Asda car park, in one of two private houses surrounded by commercial premises.

"Moving from my grandparents up Westfield Street to the town centre was Hartley's sweet shop where a lot of my pocket money was spent. Then there was Walter Hughes' television and radio shop. Next to this was the entry you can see to the left of Swift's shop.

"I remember it was a bit like Arkwright's store in Open All Hours. It sold practically everything and was known as Annie Swift's. Just next door, as you can make out in the photo, is an off licence, also run by the Swift family.

"Next door was a fruit shop and then there was Frank Waring's cycle shop. Across the road was Beechams and a pub called the Saddle. Around the corner was Horatio Ward's, known locally as Ratio, who had a knife sharpening business. I remember being terrified of being asked to take things there because you went down a narrow entry to get to his shop and the smell was awful.

"Ratio had a deformed hand with stubs for fingers. Very frightening for a young boy."

Now for a twist in the tale with photo evidence.

Ronald Hill emailed me to say: "I am related to the Swift family via an uncle and can place your picture of the grocers shop at 20 Church Street. Lionel and Elizabeth ran a much bigger store at 131 College Street on the corner of Lord Street."

Ronald's full email will appear in a later column. If you have any additional information or photos please feel free to send them to me.