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Rewind revives memory of family businesses

I was interested to read Rewind (SA, January 27). The photograph of Cottell Brothers on Regent Street circa 1910 with their horse-drawn delivery van outside held my interest.

Some time ago an advert for WC Mann (jeweller) also came to my notice.

My home when I was a young child was WC Mann of Wood Street in Swindon.

My later father James Lovegrove was working in WC Mann and as a family we rented the flat above the shop.

My father left and went to work for James Walker (jewellers) Regent Street Swindon. James Walker took over the premises that was once Cottell Brothers in your photograph.

When I left school I joined my father and worked for many years helping him in the Regent Street branch.

My father did retired but said missed his working life.

He opened the County Jewellers in Apsley House Arcade, Royal Wootton Bassett.

My husband now retired was the architect for the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton.

My father decided he would donate all of the clocks the Prospect Hospice wanted when they opened.

Sadly he died in 1997 but thank you for the lovely memories your article gave me.

Jeanette Penney, Broome Manor

Spring budget will bring joy to the workforce

Within the last week or so there have been a number of announcements and pronouncements that have blown Peter Smith’s assertions of stagnation out of the water.

The IMF has predicted that over the next two years UK’s economy will grow twice as fast as any other G7 country in Europe.

Last week the CBI reported the biggest surge in confidence by manufacturers, on record.

Official figures just released show unemployment is down to its lowest level since 1974 with the UK workforce at a record high and incomes have been rising.

The NHS will shortly receive a massive cash injection together with more money for the police.

Boris Johnson is rolling out a campaign starting February 1, the day after we leave the EU, targeting markets in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China & Hong Kong, India, Japan,

Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE and the US.

Priority negotiations will be those with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, to run concurrent with the EU negotiations.

A Cambridge academic has indicated that the UK’s newly won freedom will result in savings of up to £30billion a year for businesses and £1000 for households.

Spring is on its way together with a Spring Budget which will provide more joy for the UK workforce.

My glass is brimming over..... how is yours Peter?

If all that lot doesn’t blow your socks off I’ll buy myself some rose tinted specs to brighten up the aura when reading any further ‘dire protestations’.

Stagnation? What stagnation?

Henry Smith, Peatmoor