How Cheery Corner got its name when sisters took over Fleetwood shop

The photo showed the petrol pumps at the garage in the 1950s and in the distance three shops, which are spaced between Beach Road and Broadway. For Jonathan Ball it evoked memories of his mum and aunt who ran the popular newsagents at the end of the row of shops which were affectionately known as Cheery Corner.

His mum and aunt were Margery and Joan Barrow and moved there in 1937 from Burscough when they were just 18 and 24.

He said: “It was very unusual in those days for two young ladies to have a business. The locals thought they had come to clean the shop in readiness for their father coming to run the business.

“As far as I know, it got its nickname Cheery Corner as customers were met with a bright and cheery reception.”

Margery became Margery Ball in November 1957 when she married Jonathan’s father George Ball of West View Garage opposite the shops.

“My mother and aunt became very well known in Fleetwood, especially in the West View and Hatfield Avenue area where they had many large paper rounds.

“They had to have a special licence to employ school-age kids to work the paper rounds. Each child was named on the licence. They knew some very well known Fleetwood people, some of whom were only children at the time, such as Victor Buschini (Snr), Doctor Meltzer and Bob Arnott who became captain of the QE2.

“The shop sold newspapers, including the Evening Gazette, magazines, cigarettes, pop, chocolate, sweets, ice cream and many other useful items. They also had a small library. When World War Two started they had to fit blackout curtains at the shop. They both joined a volunteer service and used to attend meetings. My mother retired from the business in 1958 and my aunt a few years later on health grounds.”