"I am sending you a picture you may want to put on your website. It shows my Grandad George Middleditch outside Cramphorns shop in Grays, where he worked all his life. I think the lady is my grandmother Lillian (known for some forgotten reason as Bob) . George told me loads of stories about the shop including them selling a carthorse to someone in Brentwood. The horse had been used on a delivery round in Grays for many years and loved to stop at one particular house where he got a sugarcube. After he was sold, he escaped from his new home and turned up not at Cramphorns - but at the sugar cube house!
George and his workmates enjoyed a bit of fun with some unsuspecting customers. Deaf ladies might be told 'tickle your bum with a feather' said fast and softly. When they replied 'pardon' George would say 'I said its lovely weather'

They also used backslang in the shop if they wanted to keep some message secret. Backslang seemed to me to be speaking words backwards - but some letters would remain the right way round to aid pronounciation. George's favourite was said when a particularly 'difficult' lady customer was seen entering the shop. 'Mrs Reginavesaf ingmoc in d posh' (Mrs Vinegarface coming in the shop).  Actually though, George was well liked and polite to his customers! I hope you like the picture and can put it on the website."- A letter from Mary Wilde, now living in Derbyshire. Many thanks.