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Every time I return to my home town, I return to somewhere different. Sometimes it’s the bulldozers and cranes that have done it. Sometimes it’s the dreaded council with one of their “plans”. Sometimes it’s progress, and sometimes – worst of all – it’s decay. Can I stop it? No. Can someone do better? I hope so. You’ve probably heard about some of the problems Aberdeen has faced recently. This week, for example, there have been talks to prevent the closure of the city’s John Lewis – if it does shut, there won’t be a single department store left. I think of Fraser’s, where everyone got their tellies, and E&M’s, where everyone got their school uniforms, and Debenhams, where everyone got their coffee and cake. I realise this is nostalgia talking, but sometimes nostalgia is a way of telling you that things are going wrong.
Moreen Simpson: Blame us online shoppers for John Lewis shutdown
Let’s take a toddle doon memory lane.
To the great days – decades even – when the elbow of Union Street and George Street were magnets for city folk and incoming teuchters every Saturday – rain, hail or snow. Did we need to be under cover? Hell no. All ages from kiddies to grandparents thronged the pavements; usually starting at Union Terrace, with a rakie roon C&A – always brill for a five shilling jumper or £9/99 mini for the Palace. Doon to Woollies for make-up, lacquer and pick-and-mix. Grab a pie, gravy and chips upstairs in BHS, across to Markies for knickers, up George Street for gloves in Reid and Pearson’s, the Laramie board-game in the Rubber Shop, to the Copie Arcade in Loch Street for a new school blazer or sheen. You always met folk you knew for a natter. Was there a better way of spending a Saturday?