MOST of us over a certain age can remember ‘Woollies’ and the big part it played in our lives.

Many of us, as children, frequented their ‘Pick & Mix’ range of sweeties and can remember picking out our favourites.

Here in Pontypool, the Woolworths store was opened in 1923 at the site of the former Crown Hotel on George Street.

During the General strike of 1926, many families became destitute and with absolutely no income, had to do anything to survive and put food on the table.

During this terrible time, Woolworths staff made sure that every Friday afternoon the headteacher of George Street School was given all the leftover cake from the store to be distributed to the needy children.

Some hungry children on a Friday teatime had 2 to 3lbs of cakes to share between them.

The store continued to increase business, employ many local people and become a part of town life throughout the rest of the twentieth century.

The shop’s sudden closure in January 2009 after the failure of the Woolworths company in late 2008 was quite a shock to most people but luckily, here in Pontypool town, the shop was purchased by Iceland and continues to be a part of the town. But in many other towns around Britain, the shops still are closed up and empty.

In his book, Pontypool: Memories 1929 - 1947, the author David Hughes said: "Woolworths in Pontypool played such a large part in the lives of me and my friends.

"After Christmas we generally had some cash which we’d received by way of presents and we would spend ages in Woolworths agonising over the large selection of goodies available and set out on the flat display counters, all with the common price of 6d.

"I shall always remember one particular dark evening just before Christmas when I was allowed to accompany the rest of my family down to town and we saw Woolworths about eight o’clock in the evening all lit up.

"I’d never seen it that way before."

Nostalgia is provided by Torfaen Museum.