The Golden Dolphin was a bright yellow, mobile Fish and Chip van based in Finedon in the late 1950s and 60s and which travelled round the local areas including Rushden and Higham Ferrers.

It was owned by Sid and Ella Cook who lived in Highfield Street, just round the corner from me.  This was my second part time job as a teenager; my first was as a shop assistant at Wellingborough Cannon Street Co‑op cake and grocery store.

I was attending Wellingborough Secondary Technical School.  When I was fourteen, like most teenagers I needed a part time job for a bit of independence and pocket money.

I used to go shopping on Saturday morning in Wellingborough for my mum as the bus fare was cheaper, and quicker for me than her.  It also allowed me to “skive-off” some of the housework.

I often went into the Co-op when I got off the bus and I got to know the two ladies who worked there.  One day there was a part time job for a school girl.  I applied for it and was given an arithmetic test and I was taken on.  This was in the days of the milk checks and the ‘divi’.  The wage was one shilling [5p] an hour.  As the next week was half term I was asked if I would like to do a whole week, which I did, and earned £2/4s/0d, although I was very tired.  As the bus fare was 1s.2d. I thought I was really wealthy, and I bought my first pair of red, fashionable high-heeled shoes (only to be worn at weekends).

I then worked every teatime after school and all day Saturday.  For this I was paid 15 shillings.  I was also allowed to use my bus pass in the evenings.  The 402 bus went at two minutes to six and sometimes I was let off to catch it – if not the next one was six twenty.  I found it hard to keep on top of my homework so I gave up working after school and just did Saturdays.

My mum got to hear of a part-time job going on “The Golden Dolphin”.  I didn’t need telling twice, I was round there like a bat out of hell.  Needless to say I got the job.  It meant I would be working Monday and Friday evenings and Saturday lunchtimes for a wage of 2s.6d. an hour – Magic.  Supper or dinner was also included.  Goodbye Co-op!

On the first evening I was taken around the route by Ella.  She showed me what a portion of chips looked like, the price, and how to make the most economical use of the wrapping paper and equipment.  However she forgot to tell me the price of fish – she thought I was very sharp to ask before serving any customers.  I only needed one night’s training.  She also said: Open the window and ring the bell before we get to our designated stops, you’ll soon know where they are when you’ve been a few times, and in the meantime Sid will shout just before we stop.  Keep the fryer lids closed whilst moving for obvious safety reasons (separate ones for fish and the chips).  The serving window was also closed after I’d rung the bell so the gases stayed alight.  Customers walked inside to be served; Sid shut the outside door after each stop if the customers left it open.

The first task I did when we started was to pump up the gas pressure ready for Sid to light the gas.  On Monday and Friday evenings we did the whole of The Tollbar and The Hedges.  Next, on to the Balmoral Avenue and Trafford Road area.  From there we headed on to “The Ritz” to catch people coming out from both the cinema and then the pubs.  I then I served from the window.  As time progressed they extended the range of products.

I started work at 11 o’clock on Saturday morning.  We took the same route as the evenings, omitting the last venue.  We cleaned up before leaving for home every time as it was easier when the lids where warmer.  I then ate my supper on the way home – surprisingly I didn’t gain any weight.

Sometimes when the fair was on at Bassett’s Park, Wellingborough, I was asked to work on a Saturday night.  Needless to say I was well rewarded for it.

On one of my nights at “The Ritz” a very tall Polish man came to be served.  He had the most enormous hands I’d ever seen.  He paid for his chips and promptly sat up against the wall, his legs stretched right out taking nearly all the path where he sat to eat them.  This was a regular occurrence whatever the weather.  His name was Stefan.

One night whilst doing the rounds, I rang the bell but forgot to open the window.  We had to stop, clean up the glass and proceed in a draught.  Of course it was winter and I was not popular.

I met many interesting people; some of the younger ones are still around now.

In August 1960 I started my full time job, but continued for a time on the van until my family moved to the other end of Finedon.  I heard sometime after that the chip van caught fire, and Sid and Ella bought a Fish and Chip shop where they also sold wet fish.