Last updated 14:38, Friday, 27 June 2008

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Betty Wilkinson (left) and Wynn Dawson, proprietors of the Bon Bon. DENNIS SHARP REF: 0228824

VIRTUALLY everyone in this town will have their own memories of the Bon Bon.

For me it’s a 10p mix-bag and a packet of Beechnut chewing gum, bought illicitly without my mum’s approval, before a trip to the pictures.

Looking at these photos is like meeting a long-lost friend.

Jar upon jar of Jelly Babies, dusted with sugar, brightly coloured boiled sweets, chocolate boxes with cute kittens on the lid – you can almost smell the musty waft of sweet tobacco.

Alas, tomorrow the last quarter of Bon Bon sweets will be weighed out during the final sale, between 10am and 2pm.

Importantly it’s a chance for the Bon Bon ladies to say a final goodbye to their customers before the shop closes for good.

Betty Wilkinson and Wynn Dawson have been in business together since 1964.

They gave up their jobs in Marks and Spencer and took over an existing sweet shop and tobacconists in a parade of shops on Abbey Road.

“We kind of got weary working in M&S and both decided we could do something together that would make for a better life,” said Mrs Wilkinson.

“Wynn wanted gowns and jewellery and I wanted a down-to-earth shop. Then the toffee shop became vacant.”

The Bon Bon, attached to the Ritz Cinema, later the Apollo Astra, was perfectly placed.

“There were 14,000 in Vickers then. How many men went on the train every day to Askam, Kirkby and Grange and how many lodged in Abbey Road?

“How many grandmas used to push their grandchildren past the shop on their way to the park?

“We had people well trained,” recalled Mrs Wilkinson.

And of course there was the custom from the cinema, swimming baths and Holker Street School, all now long-gone.

“On Saturday mornings at 12 we’d have a shop full of kids,” said Mrs Wilkinson, referring to the kids’ cinema club, ABC Minors.

“It was all penny and tupenny stuff – Black Jacks and Fruit Salads.

“We had the senior school round the corner on Holker Street with 600 pupils.

“They all had a tanner, bob and two bob in their pockets and were really good customers.”

In its heyday the Bon Bon opened from 9am until 8pm, six days a week and 2pm until 8pm on a Sunday.

A visit to the shop became routine for many of their customers.

“So few of our customers we actually knew by name but we knew exactly what they used to buy and almost what time they would come in.

“We used to say “Here’s Big Hedges” or “Small Hedges” or “Bogie Roll”,” explained Mrs Wilkinson, referring to her customers’ choice of smokes.

“Sandie Kidoo was a regular. He used to go round town wearing a billboard.

“We used to treat him very well.”

Mrs Dawson added: “The customers were nice and we’ve never had any problems.

“ Even the winos who used to come in would behave themselves.”

Gradually the pace of change caught up with the Bon Bon.

The arrival of the supermarket era signalled the demise of the traditional high street.

“The advent of Asda was the first bone of contention,” said Mrs Wilkinson.

“It made a devil of a difference with Cadbury chocolates, so we had to specialise with Lindt and Anton Berg.”

Mrs Dawson added: “We used to sell lots of Easter eggs and then that changed because Woolies had millions, so we didn’t stock the ordinary ones.

“We were only small but we tried hard and were happy doing what we were doing,” added Mrs Wilkinson.

“The regulars used to love coming in. They said it smelt lovely and we served people how we would like to be served,” said Mrs Dawson.

When the Astra cinema closed, the pair fought hard to save their business from the jaws of the bulldozers but were eventually forced to relocate to Paxton Street, near Barrow Market, in 2004.

“When we had to go out of Abbey Road I didn’t want to move so I said: ‘let’s retire,’” said Mrs Dawson.

“Betty said if she didn’t do it she’d just die so she blackmailed me really.

“Then this little shop came up. We took a short lease and moved the fixtures and fittings in and it looked like Abbey Road, but smaller.”

Although now both 78, ill health rather than age, has accelerated the closure.

Mrs Wilkinson collapsed in March after suffering a rare intestinal complaint before developing septicaemia. Thankfully she is now on the road to recovery.

“With working from 14 years old it’s all stood me in good stead,” she said.

“The sale tomorrow is really as much a thank you and a big hug to our customers, but there’s also going to be vast reductions on such things as Zippo lighters.”

And to all the customers who’ve ever supported them Mrs Wilkinson added: “Thank you, thank you, thank you – for all your care and concern over all the years. We’ve had a lot of fun.”