Photo Mart 1986, reimagined by Nano Banana 2.1 from a mid 1950s image
During this fortnight, we said goodbye to Dad’s shop, Photo Mart, which had been his business empire for best part of 33 years. That seems like a heck of a long time, until I realise that I started my own business empire more than 32 years ago now.
I don’t think Dad’s place changed much over the decades. That site is now a rock bar, Project Orange, “trendy” according to CAMRA , which, although an authority on real ale, might not be an authority on trendiness.
Anyway…
…here’s what I wrote in my diary around that time.
Wednesday 29 January 1986 – Returned from Keele first thing – had a sedate day at work & got some work done. Very tired in evening – went to bed quite early.
Thursday 30 January 1986 – Went to Golders Green for stocktake in morning – quite interesting. Spent afternoon in the office. Had a lazy evening in this evening.
Forty years on, I find terms like “sedate” to describe a day in the office and “quite interesting” to describe a stocktake in Golders Green somewhat impenetrable.
Friday 31 January 1986 – Work in office all day – except for rushing off to VL [Laurence Corner] for wages panic. Had a drink with Mike, Sandra, Terry + others after work. Mum + Dad went out in eve – had dinner listened to records etc, watched A Taste of Honey on TV.
I was reading plays like they were going out of fashion at that time and remember that I had really liked A Taste Of Honey by Shelagh Delaney. I don’t usually much like film versions of plays, but I thought this one was the dog’s bollocks…and still do.
Saturday 1 February 1986 – Rose early + went to shop with dad. Went through books, etc. Bought 2 pairs of trousers in Streatham + had lunch + then did some more work. Had a lazy evening at home pretty tired.
Gosh I remember buying those trousers, in a so-called boutique in Streatham. I was trying to smarten up a bit, but I don’t think I did anything like as good a job on myself as Nano Banana’s reimagining of me in my new trousers. I certainly didn’t dare to go quite that bright in colour in those days.
Sunday 2 February 1986 – Rose quite early – sorted out photographs etc. Had Italian lunch + then went to G[randma] Jenny in afternoon for tea. Went from Streatham to Kate [Fricker]’s place for supper – John [White] & Andy [Crawford] were there – phoned Pady [Jalali] & had bagels etc – had plenty to drink. Missed last tube train + stayed over.
What Kate was doing in Hampstead rather than Keele in early February I really couldn’t say. perhaps seeking some quiet study away from Keele during term time! In any case, that gathering sounds like it was fun.
On this occasion, it seems, Pady missed out on the bagels. Some forty years on, she was still talking about such bagel fests when Janie and I saw her in New England in the fall of 2025.
Monday 3 February 1986 – Went home very early -> work after. Pretty tired at office but work OK. Had an early night.
uesday 4 February 1986 – Work OK – in office today. Lazy evening at home – did nothing very useful.
Wednesday 5 February 1986 – In office today – quite busy today. Had a quiet evening in.
Thursday 6 February 1986 – [No entry]
Friday 7 February 1986 – [No entry]
Saturday 8 February 1986 – Went to the library in morning -> Dad’s shop to sort out books etc – for last time. Quite tired in evening – stayed at home + did nothing.
Yup, we took those books of account home and I spent several evenings finishing off dad’s accounts and doing the sole-trader-closing-down tax returns, which was a money saver for dad and good “proper practice” towards my exams for me.
Sunday 9 February 1986 – Went to U[ncle] Josh [Moliver] stone setting – back to Sadie’s -> to Briegals [Jacqueline & Len] after with cousins etc for wine. Met Petra – went for Indonesian – very nice meal – came back late to stay after.
Josh was a lovely fellow whom I (and I am sure all who knew him well) remember(ed) warmly. All those depicted in the above 1936 picture (with thanks to Sidney Pizan) are no longer with us. Coincidentally, I attended Jacquie Briegal’s stone setting only a couple of weeks before writing up this article, in the autumn of 2026.
Monday 10 February 1986 – Saw Petra off – went to cafe – read for a while. Work OK – quite tired tho! Had a lazy evening & early night.
Tuesday 11 February 1986 – Work OK – had to go to [tax] Commissioners meeting in Woolwich in morning – OK. Stayed in eve.
The tax commissioners in Woolwich would have been a client assignment, I hasten to add. I hadn’t (and didn’t) get dad into a tax pickle by doing his closing years tax returns.
