GAFFER and Sydney from the Tetley Tea Folk caused a bit of stir when they arrived at Barrow’s Ramsden Square library in June 1999.
They were here to promote reading and encourage youngsters to exchange their old books for new ones.
Among those keen to meet them were pupils from Barrow’s Brisbane Park Infant School.
The Tea Folk – Gaffer, Archie, Clarence, Gordon, Maurice, Tina and Sydney - were devised for tea blenders Tetley in 1973 and after being retired in 2001 they made a comeback in TV advertisements from 2010.
Tetley brothers Joseph and Edward set up their business at Yorkshire in 1837 – selling salt to begin with.
In 1856 the firm moved to Cullum Street in London.
Tea bags were developed from 1908 when New York tea merchant Thomas Sullivan sent out samples in small silken bags.
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