The Teashop Girls Read online

  From reports we read in the newspapers that show our dream job it appears I am living the dream, as ‘writer’ is always at number one. Lucky me! Thank you all for keeping this writer in work and cheering her on xx

  A Letter from Elaine

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading The Teashop Girls. I do hope you’ve enjoyed the story and have made friends with Rose, Lily, Kate, Flora, Anya and Mildred. I had fun writing this story, as it brought back so many memories for me – not that I was around during the War, I hasten to add.

  As a child in the fifties and early sixties my family would take its annual holiday in Ramsgate, Kent. Like so many people back then my father was not a driver, so the trip would be by Margot’s Coaches from nearby Crayford. It wasn’t a pleasant experience for me or my sister, as we didn’t travel well. However, the thought of going to the seaside for two weeks would outweigh any feelings of sickness. Spotting the sea for the first time would have us screaming in delight. Fortunately Mum discovered we could travel from Slade Green to Ramsgate by train, and also send the large family suitcase on ahead. That case was full of matching outfits, as Mum was a very good seamstress. Sundresses, party dresses and knitted cardigans were lovingly made so we looked as smart as possible for those two weeks. Our holiday, like many other families’, was always taken in the last week of July and the first week of August as holidays were governed by factory shut-downs.

  Arriving in Ramsgate, we would be met by lads with various versions of carts made from old pram wheels and planks of wood, who would transport our cases to the boarding houses for just a few pennies. Those lads must have done well in the summer months. Looking back, those large houses were like palaces to a small child. They had an underlying odour of furniture polish and tasty food, and everywhere I looked there would be knick-knacks with ‘a gift from Ramsgate’ printed on them – no doubt gifts from parting guests. We would take something similar back for Nan each year. We always had the family room for the four of us – five after my brother arrived when I was seven – and this was our first experience of bunk beds. Such fun!

  Our days were spent on the beach before heading back to the boarding house for an evening meal. We would wash and put on one of our special outfits, and other guests would tell us how sweet we looked. All I can recall was my red sunburnt shoulders itching under a yellow seersucker dress. After dinner we would walk down to the sea-front and perhaps sit in a pub garden or go to the amusement arcade to spend some of the pennies we’d saved. I always lost my money, whereas my sister came away with a bulging purse. My friends will tell you that any time we visit the coast on a writing retreat, I make a bee-line for the amusement arcade to relive my childhood memories.

  Something that has stuck in my mind is the walk back to our lodgings after the exciting day. For a young child it was a steep climb up Madeira Walk, but we were able to stop and watch the lights and the magical waterfall that bordered the walk. No wonder that the walk is mentioned in The Teashop Girls more than a few times, or that Flora runs a guesthouse in that seaside town.

  Margate, where Rose manages her teashop, is a different kettle of fish. For me it has always been the place for a day trip, whether with my siblings or taking the Brownies when I used to help out the local pack. A morning on the beach before chips for lunch, and then off to Dreamland for an afternoon of fun. My favourite was the water caves, as to this day I simply hate the fast rides.

  When researching the Lyons teashops I was delighted to find that there had been one in Ramsgate, although these days the building is a public house. In Margate the teashop with the beautiful veranda looking out to sea has gone, although the building remains. Walk round the back of the shops and a sign can just about be seen over what would have been one of the entrances into the teashop. What I would give to have been able to enjoy afternoon tea in one of those iconic Lyons teashops. As it is, I can just about recall the Lyons Corner House on the Strand, although by then it was self-service and some of the magic had gone.

  Do you have memories of Lyons teashops, or perhaps holidays on the Kent coast back in the fifties and sixties? Please pop over to my Facebook author page and we can reminisce about those golden days of our childhood.

  Until next time,

  Elaine xx

  Praise for Elaine Everest

  ‘Heart-warming . . . a must-read’

  Woman’s Own

  ‘A warm, tender tale of friendship and love’

  Milly Johnson

  ‘A lovely read’

  Bella

  ‘Elaine brings the heyday of the iconic high-street giant to life in her charming novel’

  S Magazine

  The Teashop Girls

  Elaine Everest was born and brought up in north-west Kent, where her books are set, and has written widely for women’s magazines – both short stories, serials and features – as well as fiction and non-fiction books for the past twenty-two years. Successful in writing competitions, she was shortlisted in The Harry Bowling Prize and was BBC Radio Kent short story writer of the year in 2003.

  A qualified tutor, she runs The Write Place creative writing school in Hextable, Kent. Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent. The Teashop Girls is Elaine’s seventh book with Pan Macmillan.

  You can say hello to Elaine on

  Twitter @ElaineEverest

  Facebook: Elaine Everest Author

  Also by Elaine Everest

  The Woolworths Girls

  Carols at Woolworths (ebook novella)

  Christmas at Woolworths

  Wartime at Woolworths

  A Gift from Woolworths

  The Butlins Girls

  First published 2019 by Pan Books

  This electronic edition first published 2019 by Pan Books

  an imprint of Pan Macmillan

  20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR

  Associated companies throughout the world

  www.panmacmillan.com

  ISBN 978-1-5098-9256-3

  Copyright © Elaine Everest 2019

  Main photograph © Colin Thomas, Background © Museum of London/Heritage Images/Getty Images

  The right of Elaine Everest to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damage.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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