大象传媒

At Yate on Tuesdays there was a very good livestock market every fortnight, and a produce market every week. There was a covered building where the produce was sold. Because of this the Railway Hotel had an extended licence on alternate Tuesdays; the pub would stay open until 4 o'clock. Every week the fishmonger used to set up his stall where the bus stop is now, on Station Approach.

In the market hall they sold vegetables, chiefly garden and allotment produce - the people were great gardeners - and some farmers' produce; and the feed merchants representatives were there to meet the farmers. During the war eggs and butter were not allowed to be sold (officially) as they were on ration, but there was also a 'black market'.

People kept pigeons to race. Also, we had a woman coal merchant which was very unusual. There was coal-mining all through the war at Coalpit Heath, and at all the little mines round Kingswood and Bristol. My great grandfather had been a miner in Wales - Blaenavon. He met my great grandmother who lived in Coalpit Heath so he must have worked up here at some time.

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