Glyn Taylor

In 1952 my dad, Robert “Bob” Taylor, opened Peterlee’s first shop on Yoden Road. We lived in the flat above the shop, number 132. The first public telephone box was situated in front of our newsagents. Next door was Broughs general store. Further down the row was Doris Patterson’s haberdashery, Dewhirst’s the butchers, the fish shop, a greengrocer, and Carrick’s the bakers. The Co-op occupied the far end, next to Royal Arms pub.

Over the years we opened more shops, and the business grew. At one point we had twelve businesses in the region. As well as newsagents in Peterlee, there was also a wet fish shop, travel agency and a furniture shop, Red Boy Furnishing. I remember being told that someone went to Lambton Castle to a take a picture, with permission, of The Red Boy by Thomas Lawrence, to use in promoting the store.

Dad was always political. He formed the Peterlee branch of the Labour Party along with Joe Brady, the Co-op manager; John Alderson who was a schoolteacher, and Bill Whitehouse, a Methodist minister and Peterlee’s first Mayor. Party members stood for the Parish Council and won every seat. My mother topped the poll with the most votes.

My dad was also a member of the Development Corporation Board in the belief that “it was better with me on it”. He also laid claim to the tagline ‘Peterlee is the place to be”.