Sir, – At the age of 15, I started to serve my time to a spirit-grocer, a shop which was both a grocery and a bar. I have very happy memories of this time, from 1953 to 1955: seeing the expression of one the local doctors as he sipped on his first brandy of the day or the many who enjoyed their pint, of which I pulled my share. The tapping of the wooden firkin of stout was a unique act – you had to be sure that the first attempt with the wooden mallet was successful.
My memory of the price of the pint at that time was one shilling and two pence.
Those years of my life were good times. I cannot recall any great altercations. Life back then was simple. – Yours, etc,
WESLEY J BECK,
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Roscrea,
Co Tipperary.