This photograph shows the Kwik Save store on Wellington Street c1990. Courtesy of Terry Westwood. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This photograph shows the Kwik Save store on Wellington Street c1990. Courtesy of Terry Westwood.
I had my wedding reception in the Co-op, or Society House which was the posh name. I still have the costings – for 8/6d a head we had tongue and ham salad, bread and butter, fruit sundae and assorted fancies (cakes) The drinks for the toast were sherry, port or whisky, and that came to £7, and the flowers for the table were 12/6d. The whole bill was £30.16/8d. Weird how I can still find that from 1966 when I can’t find a letter which only came the other day!
No Anne I never worked at Ashmores although my day and uncle did. I worked in a solicitor’s office.
Sharon – My wedding reception was also held in Sparks Cafe in September of 1959, very nice place it was too. Did you also work at Ashmore Benson Pease back then because I seem to recognise your name?
As did my pseudo posh parents Sharon who, in spite my Maternal Grandparents being working class,
managed the costs as long ago as 1930. Unlike more modern times, I did not attend.
I also had my wedding reception in Sparks Cafe. Yes it was one of the popular venues in the 1960’s.
Two of my Daughters had wedding receptions in the Cafe upstairs folowed by the party in the main room, it was the place to do that then and they did do it so well at the Co-op. My own reception was in Sparks upstairs cafe overlooking the High Street, again the place to be. The last two weddings were the Tall Trees and the cost of the Co-op and Sparks would not have bought a bread bun at the Tall Trees, Tempus fugit they do say and costs rise as it does. We bought many things in the Co-op Emporium including a fridge freezer that did stirling service for many years then was used to keep beer cool in a garage for many more, now we are lucky to get five years, more modern is better?I do not think so.
This building originally was the Stockton Co-operative Society Limited. On the top floor was the Bank and General Offices.