FURTHER to the recently published letters from my 'Learned Friends', Aynesworth and Townson, on memories of this photo, I would further elaborate as follows.

The wife of Mr. Li (Lee), who opened 'Yin Din Haw', Skipton's first Chinese and first ethnic restaurant in the former Tea Shop, was called Maureen, who worked in the restaurant as a waitress and originated from Leeds.

She would became a very close friend to my mother as Mr Li became to my father. Their eldest daughter also worked as a waitress in the restaurant who I seem to remember was called Maria.

The restaurant opened circa 1963 and was something of a marvel, at the time, and refreshingly new to our town in the format of change to dining out. Though the menu, of course, was extensively Chinese dishes, there was a section of English meals such as 'Grilled Liver, Bacon & Sausage' for the uninitiated. This dish for some reason sticks out in my mind, not that I ever partook.

I have fond memories of going regularly, during school holidays, with my great friend Brian 'Chum' Smith, for the ever popular and quite unique, 'Businessman's Lunch' which was a three course lunch for the princely sum of 3/6d (three shillings and sixpence) and a nationwide promotion by Chinese restaurants on weekday lunchtimes.

During this bygone era 'Hodgson's' poultry and game shop, to one side of Yin Din Haw on Middle Row, as mentioned in Mr. Aynesworth's letter, also sold fresh fish and smoked fish. Adjacent to Hodgsons, over the road on the east side of the High Street ,was a shop named S. B. Fruit which sold almost identical produce to Hodgsons. 'Drivers' which took up the whole of the corner ('Drivers Corner' as it was known) where Swadford Street meets Keighley Road (now a hairdresser's), was another shop which sold poultry, game, wet fish and smoked fish along with fruit and vegetables. All these shops would have their wonderful array of produce on display both inside and outside their respective premises.

It is clearly evident that competitive retailing was as fierce back then as it is in today's marketplace. Another obvious indicator of such was the number of pubs in the town back then but that's a story for another time.

It appears Mr. Li (Lee) corned the market having the right idea at the right time!!

Francis O'Brien

Skipton