Cornflakes Packet In My Shoe

By Richard Dickson

Somewhat late in life I decided to write a book based on an idea which had been kicking around in my head for some time. The story concerns some antique dealers who meet every Friday at 4am in the Caledonian Antique Market in Bermondsey in all weathers. The group spent a lot of time laughing about the futility of trying to deal with the rain, frost, and snow. When not soaking wet we are cold and shivery but turn up every week without fail because they love every minute of it.

A buying trip to East Anglia turned out to be very eventful and profitable with several twists in the plot which it is hoped that the reader will enjoy. The results of this trip enabled us to form a business partnership with a view to making our fortunes.

An unexpected inheritance enabled us to open a Mayfair showroom and stock it with our specialities of furniture, pictures, and ceramics.

Later books may reveal the outcome of this venture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398496705

Richard Dickson

The author is a laid back individual with a lively sense of humour. He is a proud family man with a wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of who he loves to bits. His working life has been mainly associated with furniture and he played amateur cricket and golf to a modest standard most of his adult life. Now in his late 70s, his body no longer lends itself to sporting activities.

Book preview

About the Author

The author is a laid back individual with a lively sense of humour. He is a proud family man with a wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all of who he loves to bits. His working life has been mainly associated with furniture and he played amateur cricket and golf to a modest standard most of his adult life. Now in his late 70s, his body no longer lends itself to sporting activities.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my lovely wife Pat who has supported me for the past 59 years in whatever I have attempted.

Copyright Information ©

Richard Dickson 2023

The right of Richard Dickson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398496699 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398496705 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I wish to thank my granddaughter Kirsty and friend Sonia, for all their help in producing the manuscript and my family for their enthusiastic support

with this venture.

Introduction

These pages describe the efforts of some young antique dealers trying to make a living in South London during the early 1960s and their progress thereafter.

Myself, Richard (Dickie) Dickson:

A bit of a duffer at school and was only really interested in football but I did manage to scrape three GCEs in History, English Language and Art.

Not a clue what I wanted to do with my life and did not fancy working in the City of London that my parents had in mind for me. My Grandfather had an antique furniture restoration business in Hackney, Alfred Hudson Ltd, and he asked me if I would like an apprenticeship. He took me over one day to meet the employees and was delighted that most of the banter concerned football and I remember thinking that I am going to love this place with constant chat and micky taking combined with some very skilful work. I signed up and started the following week.

My six-year apprenticeship flew by with spells in cabinet making, polishing, and upholstery and it was time for me to go out into the big wide world and set up on my own and utilise all the skills that I had been taught. My Grandfather’s parting words were don’t rush at it son it’s got to last you a long time. I did, however, come away with several vices as I became very fond of horse and greyhound racing plus the odd beer or two and Jack Richards had a bit to do with that.

I managed to find premises under the railway arches in Bermondsey, purchased an ex GPO diesel van and later took on an apprentice, Jimmy, who was a gobby individual but I liked him a lot. I did manage to get a stall at the Caledonian Antique Market in Bermondsey Square where I attended every Friday in all weathers and at ridiculous hours but loved every minute of it.

William (Will) Thomas:

Will is a quiet sort of individual who always appears happy and seldom moans but dislikes so called experts who are not which he says is common in the art world. He is an expert on paintings and in particular British watercolours which is his speciality and he studied for several years at the Kensington Art School and is an accomplished artist in his own right.

Will has the pitch next to my own at the Caledonian Antique Market in Bermondsey every Friday and whilst he has been offered numerous jobs he prefers to try and scratch out a living restoring and selling art.

The Caledonian Market in Bermondsey Square was moved from another London location in 1950 and trading is covered by a medieval law of market overt. This states that any item sold between sunset and sunrise cannot have its provenance questioned which, in effect, means that stolen goods could be sold. It is a very vibrant place with constant banter and humour which we have come to love over the past few years and is known to us as the ‘Cally’.

David (Dave) Tanner:

He is a handsome young man with a beaming smile who women find irresistible and a local barmaid described him as a totty magnet. He is very well educated and has several GCE A levels but his main interest is pottery and porcelain that he took an interest in from an early age. He has become very knowledgeable and has a pitch at the Cally opposite to Will and myself. His sister, Janet, is a very talented ceramic restorer which is a huge help to Dave.

He is quite an athlete with a judo black belt and other martial arts achievements which he never abuses and he is a delightful and mild-mannered individual. We have seldom seen the aggression that is obviously required for his competitive sport.

Karen (Kells) Kelly:

Karen specialises in jewellery and vintage fashion and is a delightful young lady who has a pitch at the market next to Dave. When I first met Karen, she was an attractive blonde with curves in all the right places but of late she has adopted a new look with green/purple hair, baggy clothing and outrageous make up. She calls this look man repellent in the hope that she will be taken seriously as a knowledgeable dealer as men are incapable of seeing beyond boobs, legs and bums. They ignored the fact that she has considerable knowledge and expertise which she seeks recognition for.

Karen is a diamond who lends us money when we are skint, puts our bets on when we are tight on time and looks after our stalls if we nip away for a pint. She is a very good friend who we do take very seriously whatever look she adopts. Will and Dave never had the pleasure of seeing her as a dishy blonde, which was a later surprise to them both.

The four of us have become very good friends and probably the main reason for us turning up at the market at the crack of dawn in all weathers. It is a problem scraping a living in this very competitive business but we do what we can.

Jimmy Smith:

Answered my advert in the local tobacconists for an apprentice antique furniture restorer. He was full of all the old chat as to how brilliant he is at everything but there was something about him that I liked and decided to give him a trial of 3 months to see how we got on together. I was honest with him that the pay was nothing to write home about and that I expected total commitment. It turns out that he was from quite a large family on the Peabody Estate which was very local to my workshop and he is a Millwall supporter which I cannot hold against him as I have been known to visit the Den on occasions.

Jack Richards:

Throughout my apprenticeship Jack was my friend and mentor. Jack is in his early forties and is a genius with all aspects of antique furniture who was trained by my grandfather since leaving school and remained there ever since other than for six years during the war. Sadly, Jack lost his wife at a very young age through illness and has no children and his life revolves around work and gambling. He is a very close friend who was best man at our wedding.

In the 1960s, Greyhound Racing was one of the country’s premier spectator sports. There were numerous venues throughout London and Jack was very knowledgeable on both this and horse racing. He won considerably more than he lost and I would often go with him to the dogs after work. He taught me a lot about sensible gambling and what to look for in a fit greyhound.

As this story is set mainly in the early 1960s there are a number of differences between then and now. This was prior to decimal currency and we had a pounds, shilling and pence system. As an idea of monetary values a reasonable annual salary would be £1000, a gallon of petrol equal to 25 pence, 20 cigarettes equal to 12 pence and a pint of beer 10 pence.

We had no mobile phones as we know them today, no seat belt law, no satnav and archaic licencing laws, in fact, it was very much like life without technology which suited me fine as there was no internet or social media. There was also no problem with drink driving as this law had not yet come into force. I think that most drivers appreciated the dangers but of course there were some that did not. In today’s world, we are tolerant and understanding in most things but in the 1960s things like unmarried mothers were frowned upon by many. It is good that attitudes have changed for the better and it is difficult to understand that many were so narrow minded.

The antique and art world moves in circles with what was fashionable a short while ago is no longer and new trends take over. It is therefore essential that one keeps up with the times but the old adage that quality sells remains fairly constant. Some items commanded a higher value in the 1960s than today whilst others have soured in value. In the 1960s, Georgian mahogany furniture was much prized but during the 21st century, it became somewhat undesirable except for the best quality pieces. In more recent times, we have had the benefit of a number of antique price guides but in the early 1960s, very little such information existed.

Chapter 1

Reminiscing

It is my fiftieth birthday and I am sitting at my desk above our antique showroom overlooking Berkeley Square awaiting my driver to take us to Sandown Park. My wife Mary should be arriving soon to come and see my young novice mare Lady Cynthia to run in the 2.30 race and I am hopeful that she will run very well which will make my day.

One of my young employees is kindly hanging some pictures in my office at which point my secretary, Janice, appears with a cup of coffee and bends over my desk with a very short skirt. The sight of a lot of leg causes Tom to drop his hammer resulting in Janice spilling the coffee all over my paperwork. A few choice expletives followed for which I apologised profusely as the language was not fitting to be used in a lady’s presence in any circumstances.

Tom commented to the effect that it did not sound much like Eton and the Guards and I had to confess that it was the real me Bermondsey Boys and New Cross dog track. I have never tried to be something I am not but perhaps I have spent too much time at Ascot Racecourse, Wimbledon tennis and Henley Regatta and lost some of South East London. Tom said that he would still regard me as a posh geezer despite my lapse of decorum.

When I found myself alone again, I began to think back as to how I got here and found myself on my twenty fifth birthday. I was living on the 6th floor of a tower block on the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth with my wife Mary, 4-year-old daughter Emma and baby son Tony who is 8 months old.

It is Friday morning and I am due at the Bermondsey Caledonian Antique Market at 4 am where I have been attending for a number of years. Not that we ever do but there is some form of ancient law that permits the sale of stolen property before dawn hence the early opening hours.

I hear rain beating on the window which is not good as I have a very comfortable pair of soft shoes that have a tendency to let in water. My remedy for this is to cut off some Cornflakes packet and insert it into my shoe to keep the water out but not sure if this has ever done any good. King Canute springs readily to mind.

Lift out of order yet again so it’s six flights of stairs and over a mile to my workshop in the pouring rain at which point I start up Old Smokey my diesel van and possibly awaken half of South London. Not only does it produce a lot of smoke but it sounds like a tank.

Off down Tower Bridge Road to the market where I park behind my stall and set up trestle table ready to unload my wares which were loaded the previous day. Karen is usually early and always has several thermos flasks of coffee which she shares with her best mates and just hope that I am one. No sooner are the flasks produced than Will and Dave appear and we exchange views on the past week’s successes or otherwise. It would appear that we are all having a tough time and we need to improve our turnovers and a lunchtime pub meeting was suggested.

I unload and set up my stall in the hope of a profitable day as I am behind with my stall rental and the Market Superintendent will be round to collect mid-morning. I am relying on a very fine Georgian Mahogany Toilet Mirror to sell for around £30 as I am very pleased with the restoration work I have done on it. I am hoping that a customer that I call The Toff will be here fairly early. He is an ex public school boy who talks with a plum in his mouth but he is quite knowledgeable and a reasonable bloke all things considered.

Business was very quiet and I had not sold a thing so I check on Will and Dave who are both in the same situation as myself and a bit hacked off. I don’t know how she does it but Karen always seems busy and has made several sales which will hopefully enable her to lend me a few quid if The Toff does not show.

Eventually, The Toff appears and goes straight to the Toilet Mirror which I have marked up for £40 to give me some wriggle room. He asked me for my very best price to which I responded that it was a bargain at £40 but I would be prepared to move slightly. How slightly he responded to which I said £35 rock bottom. We go through this cat and mouse palaver most Fridays but it was clear that he very much liked the item so I was confident that he would buy it which eventually he did for £32. This enabled me to pay my rent plus a week’s backlog which left me enough for my wife’s housekeeping money, my apprentice’s wages and a pie and a pint at the pub.

Saying goodbye to Karen and arranging to meet Will and Dave in the Raven in Tower Bridge Road, I loaded the van and returned to my workshop for a brief visit to pay my apprentice, Jimmy, his weekly wage which was very modest. Things had been so bad of late that I often go without pay myself and need to take some form of action to get my bank manager off my back. Strange man who is known as the laughing swine as he can be charming when accounts are in credit but unpleasant when overdrawn without prior agreement.

Chapter 2

The Plan

Met Will and Dave for a pie and a pint with the objective of formulating a plan to increase our profitability. Dave advised that he had been speaking to a dealer who regularly visits East Anglia and picks up quality items at very reasonable prices and auctions them in the London salerooms for a good profit.

It was agreed that this may be a good idea as we had a reasonably sized van, expert knowledge and enthusiasm but the main problem was lack of money. Will and Dave were single but I was married with a young family and it would not be easy for me to swan off for any period of time.

The money shortage applied to all of us as business had been very slack and we all agreed that drastic action was required and I agreed to approach the subject with Mary on a possible course of action. Dave said that he could ask his dad for a loan and Will said that he would be prepared to sell some paintings that were of some sentimental value.

If we can overcome the money situation what else will we need. We could find a base camp on a camping site and live in a tent as the van would be full and very cold and Will said that he had a largish tent which he would check out. We could head for Skegness in Lincolnshire as there is bound to be a camping site at this large seaside location.

It is now early March and perhaps we should look to go when the weather improves in May but maybe April would be better when people have spring cleans and throw out all these valuable items we are going to purchase.

I had just got up to get a round in when I noticed out of the window my brother-in-law Charlie walking a freak of a looking greyhound with his chest almost rubbing on the ground. The greyhound that is, not Charlie. I went outside to say hello and he informed me that the dog ‘Monkey Puzzle’ was running in a sprint at Dagenham tomorrow morning and that barring accidents he would win comfortably at a good price.

Returning to the pub and advising the boys that this may solve our money problems. They both enjoyed a bet and thought it worth a punt so agreed to meet at Dagenham on the Saturday morning in time for the fifth race and bring a £10 stake. I promised Charlie that I would not breathe a word to anyone so could not give the boys the exact details but I phoned Karen to say that we had a tip and agreed to put a couple of quid on for her and a call to Jack whose discretion could be relied upon.

Saturday morning arrives and we are all there in good time and await the dogs to parade for the race but there is a possible problem with a big odds-on favourite and our boy is a 100/6 outsider. I said to Will and Dave that Charlie seldom gets it wrong and we all agreed to proceed as planned with me putting one £5 with a bookmaker and £5 on the tote. I told the boys to wait until nearer the off in case the odds drift even further and place £5 bets with other bookmakers which they duly did. Hares running and traps open with Monkey Puzzle streaking into a five-length lead by the first bend and duly went further and further ahead to win by 10 lengths. It was made semi respectable by the odds-on favourite having been knocked over at the first bend but rallied to finish third.

The bookmaker paid me out £88 and asked me why I had backed it to which I responded by saying the dog is a freak and that despite many years of greyhound racing I have never seen a dog with such a deep chest and I thought that it must have tremendous power.

Will and Dave got paid out and I suggested that we leave sharpish after I have collected the tote winnings as there was a lot of ill feeling about how an unknown dog was allowed to enter and how it won so easily. I had to confess that I put an extra £5 on the tote to cover current expenses such as a beer or two in the Raven later. My in laws will be in there on a Saturday night for a good old London sing song and it was agreed to meet there that evening. We have cleared £334 on our regular bets and £70 on the extra £5 tote bet less £32 for Karen’s bet. I suggest that we put £300 by for our forthcoming trip and split £78 three ways and this was agreed.

I introduced Will and Dave to my in laws family and they appeared to enjoy the typical London Saturday night. They were particularly amused by Mary’s Uncle George who would place himself at the piano, flicking his imaginary coat tails and proceed to play Rachmaninoff’s 8th variation on a theme by Paganini at which the pub would go into raptures crying more, more. Don’t f-in know any more he would exclaim. I explained to Will and Dave that Georgie was in the army with a concert pianist who taught him to play this piece from start to finish. Mary’s dad had four brothers who were all natural comedians who amused the pubs clientele most Saturdays.

During the following week, I explained to Mary that I needed to go away for a while as the business was not going too well and detailed the plan to her. She was not totally thrilled about the idea but she has always supported me and agreed it was possibly the best course of action. I will miss her and the kids and will not be away any longer than necessary.

On the Friday I paid Karen her winnings and explained that I am going away in a couple of weeks’ time with Will and Dave and she appeared quite sad about this and wondered if we had room for her. I told her that we would look out for jewellery and vintage clothing and bring it back for her. I also informed the market superintendent who insisted that we continue to pay our full rent whilst we are away.

Chapter 3

Up and Away

Final check that we have everything—tent, kettle, teapot, frying pan, assorted pots and a Calor gas primus stove. Not forgetting sleeping bags, blankets and all restoration equipment that may be required and we are ready for a very early Monday morning start.

We were all still keen and looking forward to the adventure and it was Dave that actually asked if we knew the way. I gave him a map and made him chief navigator but I had a pretty shrewd idea by proceeding through the East End and following the A11 through Colchester and Chelmsford.

We were all heavy smokers and after 1 hour travelling the cab was like a fog so it was decided that we would cut down and only smoke when we stopped for a break but this policy was short lived as the weather was good and we could travel with the windows open.

Making good progress through the Essex countryside when Will shouted for us to stop and a convenient layby enabled me to comply. There is a bloke in the field back there with a bonfire and he is about to burn a long case clock case so it was decided to investigate. We shouted to him and beckoned him over but it was unclear if the clock case had been or about to be burned.

The man came over to the hedge where we could talk to him and he asked what all the shouting was about. I explained that my friend thought he saw him about to burn a clock case and that we were antique dealers and may well be interested in buying it. Not in the fire yet, he explained, but it has woodworm. His wife had told him to burn it as she did not want woodworm in the barn where it had been. Please could we have a look at it? He duly gave us directions to his farm house about half a mile away.

We parked up at the farm house and proceeded across the field to meet the farmer who introduced himself as Charlie and we exchanged pleasantries. The clock case was a mahogany eighteenth century piece of good quality but covered in paint splashes but the worm did not look active and was only in the beech supports. What became of the workings, weights and pendulum of the clock Charlie said they were still in his barn and he duly showed us these items which seemed fine with brass dial and an eight-day movement with the maker’s name Nathaniel Hedge-Colchester. In view of the state of the case, we could only offer £30 which seemed to delight Charlie but he needed to discuss with her indoors. He said that he was going in for his breakfast and that we would be welcome to a cupper and a bite.

A difficult one with three of us but in we went and met Charlie’s wife Mavis who was a delightful woman and she instructed us to sit around the kitchen table whilst she rustled up something. What hospitality eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, hogs pudding, fried bread and a large mug of tea.

Charlie explained to Mavis that we have offered £30 for the clock which was her Grandfather’s. I advised Mavis that we are honest dealers and, in the circumstances, we thought £30 a fair and reasonable price but in view of the workings being complete and their kindness that they have shown towards us we will increase the offer to £35 in appreciation. Mavis said that they are very happy with this offer and duly accepted.

We said our goodbyes, paid the monies due, loaded the clock on the van and proceeded on our way. We had a laugh as why Dave got an extra sausage and more beans but his response was that he looked like he needed feeding up. Nothing to do with your magnetism to women, we said in a jovial manner.

I asked Will and Dave if they were happy with the transaction and they kindly said that I am the furniture man and they trusted my judgment. I said that once cleaned up and polished we should easily get £100 for it but perhaps it would be easier to find an antique dealer who specialises in clocks and try to make a quick profit. I believe that there is such a place in Woodbridge which is not far out of our way. Another possibility would be to find an auction room and leave it for sale as I have an inkling that I have heard of Nathaniel Hedge and the clock may be quite desirable. I told our navigator, Dave, to head for Ipswich and Woodbridge is a little further on whereupon we would review the situation.

Two hours later after some skilful map reading, we arrived in Woodbridge and parked up by the railway station with a delightful view over the river Deben. I ask Will and Dave if they were peckish but they were fine after the modest breakfast we had earlier. I gave them both £100 from our float and we proceeded to explore Woodbridge looking for antique shops and auctioneers. It was not long until we came across a shop which obviously specialised in clocks judging from the number of them on display.

I spoke to the proprietor and advised him that we had an 8-day mahogany longcase clock by Nathaniel Hedge for possible sale and was he interested. I went on to explain that the case was in a very poor state but the movement was fine. He wanted to know how we acquired the item and do we have good title to it and I told him the full story.

Will and Dave continued exploring and the shopkeeper and I proceeded to the station, opened the van and pulled out the clock case and workings. He expressed the view that there was considerable work to be done on the case but agreed that it was a quality item and enquired how much we wanted for it. I suggested that as he was the clock expert it would be better if he were to make an offer and asked him if he had any dealings with my Grandfather Alfred Hudson of Hackney. Yes he said Mr Hudson had restored a valuable bracket clock case for him about two years previously and made a fantastic job of it. I will offer you £120 for the clock, which I thought a fair and reasonable offer which I accepted as I appreciated the amount of work required on the case.

We loaded the clock back onto the van and I drove to the back of his premises and unloaded and went looking for the boys. I found them outside a cafe having a coffee and I joined them and conveyed the good news that we were up and running with an £85 profit that Nathaniel Hedge was a sought-after clock maker. It was agreed to use this money for expenses.

It is now mid-afternoon and possibly another 3 hours to Skegness so over to you Mr Navigator you found us Woodbridge now find us Skegness.

Dave says that it would appear to be 130 odd miles and that if we are going to get there, pitch tent and settle in before dark it will be very tight. Will said that he had previously visited North Norfolk and said that there is sure to be camping sites in this area. It was agreed to change the plan and head up the Suffolk/Norfolk coast road in the direction of Cromer and see what we come across at least it will be a scenic journey in the fine weather. We pass Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth and start looking for camp sites. Today is the 8th April and Easter being the coming weekend so we could reasonably expect sites to be open for holiday makers but they do not appear to be plentiful.