Who remembers Robinsons? Robinsons department store (front and rear) early to mid 1960’s, as it officially became Debenhams in 1972.
Photographs and details courtesy of Peter Jordison.
Robinsons, Stockton High Street
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
I worked as a Saturday girl when I was about sixteen, on the Spark’s cake counter and in the deli. Loved the smell of the coffee machine and grinder. The record department was always busy on Saturday afternoon.
Bit late in ‘discovering’ this site! Worked in Robinson’s/Debenhams for a few years in the late 60’s. I started in the TV/electrical dept with Walter Lythe, Peter Jarvis and Tom Brown then moved on the the record dept at the front of the store. Learned an awful lot during my time there.
Hi Keith its me Peter Jarvis! I’ve been trying to find you for years and just discovered this site ,
Good grief! As I live and breathe….Peter Jarvis!! Hope all is well with you? I wonder if anyone else will come out or the woodwork apart from you and me !!
Keith if you get this I’m on Facebook or email pictures@stockton.gov.uk and they will forward you my email.
Why do I get the impression my replies aren’t getting to you?!?
Looks like mine arn’t getting to you Keith ,would love a catch up !
Think it’s sorted now!!
Is that Peter Jordison who lived on Hardwick?
Yes Arthur, 2 Inskip Walk
Still there Peter? I’m been in Woodham for 15 years.
Sent from the all-new AOL app for iOS
Still in Stockton Arthur but moved from Hardwick in 1970
It’s lovely to see so many comments on this post, and all positive!
There was a travel agent just inside the main door , around 1963/64 . I booked my first grown up holiday there . It was £19 ( a whole month’s wages ) for a week in Italy . Great holiday !
I was Sandra Simmons working in Robinsons back in 1965 and I used the travel agent on the ground floor to book an all-in package for our honeymoon in Jersey. Ken Jones, who worked in Robinsons 1959-1961, my then future husband was serving at RAF Pergamos in Cyprus, so all the arrangements for the wedding, etc., were left to me. The honeymoon package cost £32 for flights and hotel for a week on the “Honeymooners’ Isle” back then.
Yes I remember you/I am Craig Allison and was with Ken in Furniture Dept.Do you remember the Bus trip to Blackpool where you two got together Craig Allison
I worked there in the Accounts office along with my sister Jeanette Kelly nee West, left there in Dec 1970 when I got married and moved south with my husband Alan.
Hi Brenda, Peter Jarvis here, I worked in the TV dept on mezzanine floor and later basement from 67 to around 70, just met up with Rita Armstrong (now Willis) she worked in accounts with Mr Bates around the same time as you and I ..small world !
Hi Peter, the name Rita Armstrong is ringing bells did she live in Thornaby ? also a Mr Pickett keeps popping into my mind.
I got Percy Thrower’s autograph down in the gardening section in the basement back in the early 60s. I, like others was fascinated by the whole experience of Robinsons, especially Christmas time.
I had a summer job there in, I think, 1969 selling cigarettes in packs of 200. No barcodes and I couldn’t get the hang of the mechanical till. My mother worked the telephone exchange. Happy days.
I’m Ken Jones and I met my future wife Sandra Simmons at M. Robinsons, High Street Stockton-on-Tees… She worked on the Ladies Separates Dept on the First Floor 1959 – 1965. I worked from Christmas 1959 – 1961 when I joined the RAF. I worked in the Basement in the Toy Department over Christmas 1959 and moved up onto the Furniture Department on the Second Floor in 1960. We married in 1965, the year she left Robinsons to become an RAF Wife. We now live in Bedfordshire.
I remember the balconies in Robinson’s where as kids we used to wave to one another across the department store. The then cafe for a knickerbocker glory ice cream as a treat. This was in the 1950s.
I remember it from the 50s and 60s. My mother had a friend whose surname was Robinson and she must have been part of the same family because she got a discount. It was an alternative to the Coop.
I remember the food bit at the back, our treat every Saturday was a Newboulds pie and a Robinsons fresh cream chocolate cake. Delicious!
I remember going to Robinsons with my mam in the 1940’s & early 50’s to spend her £5 Provident ticket.
I remember it well… and Maxwells School Outfitters opposite corner….
Oh wow. This really does bring back memories. Mam used to be one of the sign writers for them and helped out with the window displays.
I remember it well.
Oh I do remember it. I worked in the cash office when I left school in ‘68. It was Robinsons then. I worked with Jean Millington, Andrea Hobbs and Barbara Hook. The boss was Gilly (Gilbert) Bates and assistant manager was Flo Adams. I absolutely loved that job. I also remember the overalls on the women in the store. Blue with a pink check collar. I just loved that store.
Hi Mandy, Peter Jarvis from tv and electrical, I was there in 68, have just met up with a Rita Willis from accounts (small girl with red hair! 55 years later!), hope you are well, Rita is on Facebook as Rita Willis.
My mam used to take me here in the late 50’s/early 60’s. I always loved the big department stores, and was fascinated with their method for moving money around with their compressed air tubing system
Remember Robinsons well. Particularly the man in the brown coat who worked the lift . No do it yourself in thise days.
I still remember the lift guy… Awesome job.. He really went up in life..
My Aunty, Joyce Pearce (nee) Turner worked there, before becoming manageress of Chain Libraries near the Cinema
The ‘real’ Fr Christmas was always here – at least that is what we were told as kids – the rest around town were only his helpers. And I remember a staircase where you turned a corner and suddenly entered a wonderland as one approached the grotto – and I presume toy department.
Did a lot of our “bottom drawer” buying before our wedding and after it became Debenhams my younger brother worked there – Tony Hill