BACK in October I asked if anyone had any information on an Emily Pumblochook.

There were no hits at all on Google for that name but there was one on for Pumblechook. A caller told me there was a character of that name in Great Expectations.

They said there was a dress shop named Pumblechook in the Kirkland Street area but her sister thought it was around Lowe Street.

Jean Witherspoon rang to say she used to work for her and three of them used to work from a terraced house on the corner of Kirkland Street and Wilson Street.

Carol, who was Emily Pumblechook's real name, designed and made exclusive dresses for young ladies boutiques that were popular in the early 70s. Carol had a financial partner but sadly he quit and the business subsequently struggled. 'Emily Pumblechook' was the designer label which they attached to the dresses.

Coffey Time reader John Crook recalled: "The shop was in one of the streets leading to the town somewhere between Peter Street and Lowe Street.

"It was noteworthy because it was one of the few places in St Helens that reflected the psychedelic era of that time. I can't remember whether this was just the shop sign or on the window as well.

"This would have been around 1967/68 but I don't think it was open for very long. Flower power didn't really take hold in St Helens apart from the odd kipper tie."

By coincidence I have been watching three programmes on psychedelic rock on BBC4. I loved the music of that era. With Harold Wilson's 'White Heat of Technology', man going to the moon and St Helens Council producing an illustrated book on their vision for the town it all seemed plausibly optimistic even if the tide was slower than reaching the North West from swinging London.

Then the town and markets were full of local businesses.