How generations lived, loved and laboured over the many decades

Thanks to Amberley Publishing my latest book 'Lost Preston' has now been published.

- writes Keith Johnson.

As we journey through life we observe many changes and we may wonder about what lays ahead.

Researching this book took me on a journey, not into the future, but into the past and the outcome gives a glimpse of life in Preston not only in my lifetime, but that of earlier generations. There are things in our daily life we often took for granted which no longer exist and are lost forever, except possibly in our memories.

Recalling the shops and streets of Preston experienced by my generation will take you back to a time before supermarkets and retail parks when the corner shop keeper was at the centre of the neighbourhood. Grocers and newsagents were conveniently situated at the end of the cobbled terraced rows and provided life's necessities.

A typical newsagent's shop when I was a youngster was that of Mr. George Cunliffe on New Hall Lane. I delivered newspapers twice daily. Along with his wife Bertha they always had a pleasant greeting for their customers who besides purchasing a Lancashire Evening Post might want some boiled sweets or an ounce of tobacco. It was a time when Friargate, Fishergate, Church Street and Cheapside flourished with high street stores aplenty, where there was no shortage of fashion or flair. When window shopping was common with butchers to bakers, pharmacists to photographers, hatters to hosiers and confectioners to cafe proprietors, all displaying their wares to tempt you to buy.