Memories from Dot Foster
B.P. Petrol Station Cleadon
I worked at the garage for a couple of years, that's me in the photo, serving petrol. the photo was a promo pic for BP, who also made a short promo film. The two other people were Tom Scarfe, my boss, who ran the garage for BP, and a rep from BP, there for the promo shots, it's the reps car I'm pretending to fill up.
Tommy was Jimmy Savilles uncle and related to Scarfe the cartoonist. Tommy worked for BP for many years as a ships pilot in the far east, and came back to live in South Shields when his wife was ill, and ran the garage for that time. He returned to the far east when she died, and did ask me if I wanted to get a job out there, but I was on the verge of getting engaged so didn't take him up on his offer.
I married a lad from Cleadon, whom I served with petrol one day. He thought I was a hippy as I used to take my guitar to work, for something to do when it was quiet.
Tom was a great boss, he let me run the place my way, and was always dropping off cream cakes as a treat. I remember walking from Boldon, where I lived then, to open up at 7 am, and dashing along to the Brit next door to get a pie for my lunch, and sometimes wishing there would be a break in customers so I could go to the loo, as I worked alone.
I remember petrol was 4 and 10 a gallon then, and I had to check customers oil and water for them.
Remember The Cottage Homes
Tommy was Jimmy Savilles uncle and related to Scarfe the cartoonist. Tommy worked for BP for many years as a ships pilot in the far east, and came back to live in South Shields when his wife was ill, and ran the garage for that time. He returned to the far east when she died, and did ask me if I wanted to get a job out there, but I was on the verge of getting engaged so didn't take him up on his offer.
I married a lad from Cleadon, whom I served with petrol one day. He thought I was a hippy as I used to take my guitar to work, for something to do when it was quiet.
Tom was a great boss, he let me run the place my way, and was always dropping off cream cakes as a treat. I remember walking from Boldon, where I lived then, to open up at 7 am, and dashing along to the Brit next door to get a pie for my lunch, and sometimes wishing there would be a break in customers so I could go to the loo, as I worked alone.
I remember petrol was 4 and 10 a gallon then, and I had to check customers oil and water for them.
Remember The Cottage Homes