Southsea baker's - a real treat for lardy cake fans | Nostalgia

It had been trading at the same location since 1903, and so another private business closed forever.

John England dropped me a line to say the bakery was started by his grandfather before the war, in Buckland Street, Landport, and was continued by his eldest son, Tom Beames, after the war.

He then moved to the bakery at Hambledon, and later bought Scott’s at Southsea, as well. That bakery was managed by John's cousin, Frank Rodgers. Tom Beames was his uncle, and John his eldest nephew.

Frank Rodgers took over the business from his 86-year-old uncle Tom Beams in 2004 after running the business for 34 years. It was the place to go to for real 'bread-heads’ who knew what they wanted. It was said that the lardy cake was to die for.

In another article I mentioned the Portsmouth children who were evacuated to Buriton, south of Petersfield. In the photograph we see evacuees John and his sister Lily standing be side a tree in the village.

WHEN DELIVERING MILK WAS NO YOKE

Long before electric milk floats became the norm, milk was delivered in hand-held containers and pushalong floats.

Milkmen as we once knew them have long gone but I’m told they might be coming back. We’ll see.

The man with the yoke was described as the oldest milkman in Portsmouth in 1914. I believe he’s in Elm Grove, Southsea.

The second picture shows a milkman with his push-along float from a dairy, Hoar’s, at 66, Castle Road, Southsea. Picture: Robert James