The photo of Sainsbury's in St. James Street in the 50s brought back memories of shopping with my mum. One of the things that fascinated me at the time was the women patting the butter with those little wooden bats, and the lines left on the butter. They always wore their white headscarves in a sort of turban as my mum did, it was the fashion at the time I think. I did notice in the photo the trolley bus wires. What number trolley bus used St. James Street in the 50s, was it the number 42 or 42a that then turned left into Upper Rock Gardens?. That was when St. James Street was a two way street.

Mick Peirson.

The 42 was a circular route and was worked in both directions: Brighton Station - North Road - Grand Parade - St. James's Street - Upper Rock Gardens - Egremont Place - Queen's Park Road - Elm Grove - Union Road - Viaduct Road - New England Road - Seven Dials - Brighton Station.

The 41 was also a circular route in both directions, but was a subset of the 42 going via Richmond Terrace and Grand Parade to St James's Street after coming down Elm Grove.

St. James's Street was a trolleybus extension beyond the previous tram system. The two routes using St. James's Street commenced on the 1st September 1939 and ceased on 25th March 1959. Four new routes started as 10-minute frequencies at that time, with route 41: Aquarium/Elm Grove/Queens Park Road/St James's St; and route 42: Brighton Station/Dials/Open Market/Elm Grove/Queens Park/St James's/Steine.

My Dad used to work in Sainsbury's in St. James's Street as a butcher - his name was Reg Hardy. He left Sainbury's to work on the buses as a conductor.

I can't remember the St James's Street Sainsbury's but I worked at 55 London Road branch. I have fond memories using my butter pats to weigh out 1/4 ounce of butter to a regular customer. In St James's Street there was a great hot pie shop that sold savoury and fruit pies.

I can remember Sainsbury's as a child in the early 70's. My Mum used go into the deli bit which you had to go down steps to get to from the main grocery shop. We as kids had to stay outside with the pram. We would look in and see the ladies patting butter, cutting cheese and slicing meats. There were big marble counters too. If only supermarkets looked back, I am sure the trudge round these places would be more pleasurable. But London Road shopping and the open market is more appealing.

I worked in this Sainsbury's in the late '50s. You used to have to go to Blackfriars in London to train for two weeks. After a short while I left to get married and lived in London for two years.