Shoe Shop, Broad Street, Reading

[kismet]

I remember Milwards, but I thought it was a department store further towards the Oxford Road - opposite the entrance to the now Butts Shopping Centre.  Although, thinking about it now, I do believe their shoe shop was separate, but I don't remember where it was sited.  I wonder if all shoe shops had rocking horses and foot x-ray machines?

I remember Clarks crepe soled sandals too!!

Although born there, I left Reading in 1962 and now live too far away for an easy trip there to look for myself.

Thanks for the memories Ian.

Kismet

[Clingan]

Hi Kismet,
Milwards an all shoe shop. Ankle snappers upstairs when I worked there and adults downstairs.
Even as an ankle snapper myself recall rocking horse near a window overlooking Broad street and machine towards
back of upper floor.
Like you I escaped from Reading but not until 1966 
Ian

[kismet]

Hi Ian

I like the "escaped" - that was how I felt at the time.  Did you go to school in Reading?

Kismet

[Clingan]

Hi Kismet,
In answer to your question, yes. Geoffrey Fields Infant and Primary Schools and then Ashmead, both Secondary and Junior School Of Building, so gives you the area I was living in
Joined the RAF Police, travelled the world and now live in the Highlands
Ian

[kismet]

Hi Ian

I went to Redlands Primary, The Grove Primary, Emmer Green Primary, Wilson Secondary and finally Westwood Grammar.  I then did a years sec course at Reading Tech.

I didn't quite travel the world, but I did live in Jersey for 20 years.  Now in Norfolk.

Kismet

[sarahkirton]

Just come across this post. I used to have a Saturday job at Milwards in Broad Street many moons ago.
They had a large rocking horse in the store as well as an "x-ray" machine for looking at the internal fit of the shoe.
They had both even when I was a kid being fitted out for my Clarks crepe sole sandles and they were both still there in the
early 60's.
Regards
Ian Clingan

I remember the large rocking horse and xray machine from my childhood, you used to have to take a number and wait to be seen rather than just find an assistant.

[HeatherLynne]

Kismet, was the department store you're thinking of McIlroys?   That was on the block opposite what was the Butts Centre but is now more attractively named Broad Street Mall.  McIlroys later became the Co-Op and nowadays most of that block is Primark.

[Clingan]

And the assistant, including me, had to put money and invoice (hand written in duplicate) into a tube, have it sent by air to the accounts office and have it fired back in the same manner with stamped invoice and any change owing. Technology

[Marmaduke 123]

They've still got the air tube at Jacksons down on the corner of Kings Road and Market Place. All you ex-Reading folks would recognise Jacksons no problem - unchanged since I came to Reading in the mid 60s.

Anne