Sign of the times

I've been thinking about the High Street in Dunbar a lot recently. It's been a worry to many folk - not least the traders - that the businesses there are facing a really hard time. Lots of shops have closed down and the flurry of start-ups has stopped.

This is partly due to the arrival of ASDA 18 months ago. However, some of the businesses don't really help themselves very much. Whilst some have charming staff, some do not. Some only open when it suits them. Most of them have no clue about merchandising. And the whole street looks a bit run-down.

It's happening everywhere, I guess. But it's sad in a town like Dunbar which has attracted so many incomers in the last few years, and ought to be growing in prosperity as a result.

A similar thing is happening in Kirkby Londsdale, Lancashire. The gold letters in my picture used to form part of the proud signage of "Plato Harrison, Wine Merchants". It was the most wonderful shop, which used to be one of our first stops on the annual holiday with our good friends, J & C. And then Booth's opened a supermarket on the edge of town. A very nice supermarket, with a very nice wine section.

J happened to be there the day the workmen were tearing down the signage. She plucked up her courage to ask for some of the lettering, and brought these to Red on a recent visit. A treasured gift and reminder of good times.