I also have fond memories of Highbridge Market street and I used to play with Spencer Dibble as a child (in our gang) I am Jennifer Saunders (nee Smith) and we used to play with Beverley and Stephen Bennett and their parents kept the Railway Hotel and my parents used to keep the Railway Vaults (Just in front of where the Co-op is now) which was a Cider house next to the Hotel and on the other side was the Town Hall, and opposite there was the cycle shop that Spencer mentioned it was called 'Willis cycle shop' my parents bought my 'Pink Witch' bike from there.(Oh the joy)

The Engraving company/pet shop Spencer mentioned was a jewellery shop before that, and opposite that was Ivor Fisher newsagent and beyond that on the corner opposite Lloyd's Bank was Mrs Duddrige fruit and veg shop.

The other butcher was called Bruce Hatcher and the tobacconists was run by my uncle Walter Wright.

The hairdressers Spencer mentioned was Christine Wensley and just around the corner from her was the Ironmongers 'Tyelers' I can still smell the wooden floors and paraffin they would sell, and on the other corner from Lloyds Bank was Barclays Bank and on the opposite to that was the Corn exchange.

I could go on and on once you get your mind in gear, and of coarse there is Church street and streets off like, Newtown Road the pubs there the Anchor and the Globe and the Somerset Vaults (known as the Top House)and half way up there was a place of worship called 'The Tabernacle'

And back to Church Street you had The Lamb and the The White Heart (where the social club is now) beyond that there was car garage ( that was then Normans cash and carry) opposite there was a Haberdashery called Gardners and next to that a mens outfitters then further up you had Chapples bakers ( Oh the smell of their bread) and then a little later next door was 'Forsey' Butcher, then there was Swifts that sold wool and silks etc. then there was 'Gloyns' (I think) that was a general store that sold all sorts.

And now where the funeral directors are that was 'Foster' Fruit & veg shop and where the now new Post Office is, used to be Cox & Cox furniture shop which in turn became Gateway supermarket and from there up 'Touts' Fruit & veg (later became a bakers) and next a little watch repair shop 'Robinsons' And Mr Robinson use to winde up the old town clock, and I think there was at one time next to him a wet fish shop.

A little bit later when my husband and I were courting 1964 he had just left me late one night and was walking home towards the old town clock that stood in the middle of the road and he saw the lorry that knocked the clock it over.

I have certainly enjoyed going back to those days in my mind and I hope Spencer remembers me and 'our little gang' that also included Michael and Martin Soloman, as you can tell I was a little bit of a tom-boy.

Yours sincerely

Jennifer Saunders (nee. Smith)

PS I just remembered that 'Willis Cycle shop' used half the shop for bikes and the other half for prams the lovely Silver Cross coach built ones and pushchairs.

I have also attached a photo of my parents and sister and friend outside of the said pub 'Railway Vaults' in 1953, as you can see in the window the royal decorations to mark the Queens Coronation.