Dorothy C. Maguire (nee Coles) remembers her six pence a week, pocket money

WHEN I was eight or nine years old I was given 6d (in old pence) pocket money a week.

But already 3d was earmarked for essentials - that is, 1d for Sunday School, 1d for church and 1d for Brownies. This left me with only 3d to spend during the week.

On the way to Arnside National School, which has now become the Catholic Church, I had to pass Mr Hunter’s Sweet Shop. It was located at the top of Orchard Road, on Silverdale Road, where the Dentist is now.

The left side of the shop was the sweet counter and I believe the right side was a bakery.

I could make the 3d last all the week as I could buy a cone-shaped bag of sweets for a ½d or 1d.

There we could choose liquorice sticks, liquorice wheels, sherbet dips, humbugs and other tempting sweets.

We were always spoilt for choice and made these delicacies last for ages.

I usually spent my money on the way home from school – the shop was only 100 yards from school, I think I liked the sherbet dip best as I could make it last for ages.

During the war years our sweet supply was severely curtailed, being only two or three ounces per week.

Two elderly ladies, with two dogs, who lived near us let me have their sweet coupons if I collected any scraps of food from our house and gave the scraps to their dogs!

These days one doesn’t see these cone-shaped white, paper bags, only transparent, plastic bags. Our bags could hold all sorts of mysterious and delicious treats.

I still have a sweet tooth and enjoy all things liquorice.