Hungerford Arcade has a fabulous window where dealers take it in turns each month to display their wonderful items.  This month it belongs to Jane and Trevor (Unit 12) who always put on a stunning display (see the larger picture below).  The next time you are walking by the Arcade, take a look at the window and see what lovely goodies are waiting for you.

Jane and Trevor also have a large garden area that goes up both sides and around the back of the Arcade selling a multitude of garden art, tables and chairs, benches, bird baths, plinths, statues, ladders, animals, enamel bowls, pots, dolly washers, tin baths, in fact everything you can think of and more.  They also have a unit inside the Arcade (Unit 12) selling vintage tools, metal signs, lovely pottery and lots of other things.  We are very proud of Jane and Trevor’s garden area at the Arcade and our customers love it and keep coming back for more.

Jane is also a very accomplished artist and you  can see some of her work on display in the window.  You can find out more about Jane Elliman the artist by clicking here.

Hungerford Arcade had an old friend visit us today, Atwell Motor Museum.  They have been part of our Classic Car Shows on numerous occasions and it is always a delight to know what events they have coming up.

To celebrate coming out of lockdown, the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum will be holding their 18th Annual Classic Vehicle show on Sunday, 11th July 2021.  Details below.

https://atwellwilson.org.uk/index.html

                                                                                                     Adrian with a wonderful Friend of the                                                                                                              Atwell Motor Museum, Pam Bain

Hungerford Arcade’s coffee shop, Alexander’s Tea Room will be closing for business for the final time on Friday, 25th June 2021.  James has decided to leave and we wish him all the very best for the future. 

The exciting news is, we have new people taking over on the 1st July.  They will have to move all their equipment in                                                             and get ready for the grand opening so watch this space for                                                   important updates.

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This is a fine example of a 19th century Mourning Ring. A now unusual and rarely seen piece of jewellery which back in the 17th, 18th and 19th century were much more commonly found.

https://www.antiquejewelleryboutique.com/antiqueringsover500/victorian-mourning-ring-with-pearls-amp-diamonds

A mourning ring would be worn in memory of a loved one that had passed and would often have their name or a motto displayed. If it could be afforded they would usually bare a black stone of Jet, otherwise the cheaper options of enamel or vulcanite could be used. If the loss was of a child then it was common to use white enamel instead for clarity.

https://www.antiquejewelleryboutique.com/antiqueringsover500/victorian-mourning-ring-with-pearls-amp-diamonds

The use of mourning rings dates back as far as the 14th century but it was not until the 17th century a clear name for the ring arrived. In the 18th century jewellers were even advertising mourning rings with a clear style having one small single stone and the details of the decedent recorded in enamel on the hoop.

https://www.antiquejewelleryboutique.com/antiqueringsover500/victorian-mourning-ring-with-pearls-amp-diamonds

In the latter 19th century the style shifted to a mass production of mourning rings which now had a photograph of the decedent on display rather than a stone. Towards the end of the 19th century the use of mourning rings largely ceased and only had a short stint of popularity again in the United States over the 1930’s and 1940’s.

https://www.antiquejewelleryboutique.com/antiqueringsover500/victorian-mourning-ring-with-pearls-amp-diamonds

This is just one of the many fine antique rings or piece of jewellery with unique history that you will find here at the Hungerford Arcade!

During the last lockdown we got together and discussed what we could do over the Christmas period to benefit the local community. All sorts of ideas were thrown around, from a raffle to a soup kitchen.  Finally, a decision was made that we would put together Christmas hampers and donate them to a local retirement home.

Crown Mews is located in Hungerford directly behind Hungerford Arcade, where Alexanders Tea Room is based.  Not wanting to inflict our idea without permission, we got in touch with Yvonne Gillies (the manager for Crown Mews) for her consent to go ahead. She thought it was fantastic and was taken by surprise by the generosity.

Ann Parker from Unit 42P took the above picture of James and Sally and said:

“James and Sally delivering hampers to Crown Mews residents.  He and Chez (Cheryl) have enlisted the support of all the local businesses which are used by Alexander’s Tea Room and what a fantastic result.  Well done all involved”.

Hungerford is very much a community town and even though Alexanders has only been open for just over six months, we were blown away by the generous response from other local businesses eager to donate to our idea.  Also, by the generosity of suppliers & businesses further afield.

All together 9 businesses donated including:

Christian Alba Butchers
Hungerford Bookshop
Martin & The Magpie
Inklings
Beechwood Eggs.
The Runner Bean Coffee Co, Thatcham.
Teapigs
Marshalls Bakery, Pewsey
The Elephant at The Market, Newbury

I would like to wholeheartedly thank each of those businesses for their contribution and support.

The hamper drop was made on Christmas Eve and all were greatly received by the residents of Crown Mews, Hungerford.

It has been a difficult year for all concerned and the team believed that giving something back to those who have had to shelter during these difficult months was the very least we could do.

Keep Safe & Keep Well
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
James, Cheryl, Sally & Izze 

All of us here at Hungerford Arcade send our deepest appreciation to Alexander’s Tea Room, James, Cheryl, Sally and Izze.  We are very proud of you all.

Ann Parker from Unit 42P summed up the feeling in  the town nicely when she said:

“Although this was a lot of hard work for James and Chez.  This is the true Christian side of Christmas and won’t be forgotten.

James and Chez have great relationships within the town and the support they received from so many local businesses just emphasises that they are very important to the Hungerford Community and it’s true spirit of Christmas”.

Hungerford Arcade is one of the non-essential shops in the south-east that have had to close from mid night tonight (19th December) due the the Government’s new guidelines on the coronavirus.  The whole of Berkshire along with other high risk areas have had to do the same.  We do not know how long the closure will last at the moment, but will keep you posted.

Everyone here at Hungerford Arcade would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Happy Christmas!

Although the whole of Berkshire is now in Tier 3, Hungerford Arcade and all other shops in the town can remain open for your Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, our coffee shop, Alexanders Tea Room will be closed. Don’t forget the late night shopping evenings tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night. We and other shops in the town will be open til 7.00 pm. We look forward very much to seeing you.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Hungerford Arcade stallholder, Ian Spuffard was due to take part in the 2020 London Marathon, but now it has been cancelled for all but the elite athletes, Ian is determined to run the marathon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The London Marathon organisers have now said that Ian cannot use a treadmill to take part in the Marathon. Instead, Ian will be running the London Marathon around the streets of Hungerford (being monitored by the London Marathon organisers) and will meet up with everyone on the Hungerford Town Hall steps at 12.00 noon. Ian will be working very hard to reach his target of £2,000 for this wonderful charity. Please do come along and give him your support for this daunting task.

The weather is going to be terrible so, please give Ian a big cheer when you see him on his Marathon run and give as much as you can to meet his target.

Hello Again

I have never ceased to be amazed by what you find and lose when you are moving house.

Our move to Deal has been no exception as items that we thought long lost suddenly showed up again.

One of these items was a recording of Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence which I purchased from the Arcade many moons ago.

Seriously I had not seen it for years and thought it might have been borrowed or even accidentally donated

But there it was with my Terry Jacks and Donny Osmond albums as bold as brass.  I thought that my Hay Fever tablets had become stronger or that I had swallowed too much sea water whilst swimming.

The cover showed Noel and Gertie about to kiss as he was playing the piano, although they are clearly fencing.  The photograph had been taken during the Broadway production of Private Lives which Noel wrote in 1930.  It is a play in three acts about a divorced couple honeymooning with their new spouses.  By accident, they are given adjacent rooms which is bad news as Elyot and Amanda (Noel and Gertie) had a very stormy relationship and had divorced five years earlier.

In the course of the play, all kinds of things happen and in the end, Elyot and Amanda get together again.  Their spouses, Victor and Sybil (played by Laurence Olivier and Adrianne Allen) also appear suited for each other.  This said, they bicker as much as Elyot and Amanda.

Sadly, although I have seen other plays by Noel, I have not seen Private Lives which is something I regret.  The play also contained one of Noel’s best loved songs, Some Day I’ll Find You.  My record is not an original and dates from after 1952 as it mentions Gertrude’s early death on the sleeve.

Although Private Lives is featured, there are a number of other Coward songs which feature the French singer and actress, Yvonne Printemps.  One of my favourites, Mad Dogs and Englishmen is also included.

During the recent fine spell, we took Noel and Gertie to the beach along with my portable record player.  The evening was beginning to draw in, although the temperature was still around twenty-five.  People were still in the sea and there were a number of people sharing cocktails and the like on the beach.  Although I did not have it turned up too loud, I think that Noel and his friends added to the ambience of this lovely evening.

I can remember during a grandchild free moment that I closed my eyes and imagined that we were in inter-war France.  Perhaps in Deauville where the play is partially set or, in the south as this evening with its special light reminded me very much of this beautiful part of France.  Sadly this is an era that has passed and Noel’s work seems to the new generations, quite old fashioned and quaint.

But before one writes off Noel completely, one must realise that this brilliant man also wrote and co-directed In Which We Serve (1942) which was a million miles away from the likes of Private Lives and Blithe Spirit.

My trip to 1930s France was as you can imagine, short lived as Damien had returned and decided that tipping fine sand on to my face would be great fun.

I returned from 1930s France to Deal in 2020 faster than the speed of light much to the amusement of the seagulls.

Although I have not seen recordings by Noel and his pals recently, they do show up frequently in the Arcade.  If you do find one then purchase it and I guarantee that you will like the contents.

My record is so popular that it is currently on loan to a friend who lives in an apartment which overlooks the sea.  He and Robin have told me that they might dance to Noel’s songs which might attract a little attention from the passing dog walkers.

I might not be as silly as that, but I might just sing along to some of Noel’s unforgettable songs.

Who knows.

Happy Hunting

Stuart Miller-Osborne

Hungerford Arcade is buzzing with activity (allowing for social distancing), getting ready for our grand re-opening on Monday, 15th June at 9.15 a.m.  All the safety measures for customers and staff were put in place last month as we thought that we could re-open on 1st June.

Following the new Government guidelines, we have an extra two weeks of lockdown so Arcade co-owner, Adrian Gilmour decided to crack on with the square and gave it a thorough clean and fresh coat of paint.  We had a Lysander Aircraft hanging from the beam which had to come down and you will see from the video below,  Adrian couldn’t resist giving us a demo of how it would look when it was flying. 

The Lysander was very slow but really good on landing and take off from very short, rough fields. It was used by the Special Operartions Exective to insert agents into France and the Netherlands. It was not even armed, but relied on flying at night to avoid being detected. Landing in a field you had never seen before, in the dark, never knowing if an ambush had been set up took nerves of steel.  If you are looking for the unsung hero pilots, they flew these aircraft.