F. G. Thomas

My photo today is a street shot, but the intent was mostly to capture F. G. Thomas, which I noticed has now closed it’s retail premises.

The shop had been there as long as I remember (it had actually opened there way back in 1925) so it came as a bit of a shock to see the empty window and for-lease sign. It appears that, as the lease was up for renewal on the premises, the current owners have decided to move their business online as their footfall in the shop had been gradually declining.

I’ve racked my mind, but I can’t honestly remember ever having gone in the shop, much less bought anything, which makes me feel oddly guilty. On the one occasion I bought a fountain pen (they were a requirement for some unknown reason when I started comprehensive school in the 80s), I think it was from WHSmith, just around the corner on Fargate.

I’m glad to have captured the signage of the shop, even if the windows are now empty – the little man with his “is it a globe, or is it a hairnet?” hairstyle was a nice thing to see.

Olympus OM-1, Zuiko 28mm f/3.5 & Ilford HP5+.

Taken on 6 October 2019