OK, I give up.

Before the age of supermarkets, grocer's shops along Hatfield Road painted their names above the door and that was that.  Occasionally, one family owned two shops and, naturally, the same signwriter was employed so that both shops sported the same sign design.

Then the franchises arrived, with plastic signs indicating SVG or some other wholesaling company.  The big brands failed to make their mark in Fleetville until the Co-operative Society closed their local shops and built a big store on the ex-Ballito site.  It still seems rather unusual to see a Tesco Express in the run of shops near St Paul's.

In place of the Co-operative store another brand now occupies the heart of Fleetville, and that is William Morrison.  But I've spotted something unusual; something which has changed.

If you Google Morrison's on its images search box, you will discover plenty of examples of its stores around the UK.  They all look the same without being the same; some of the earlier stores do not yet display the huge M disc above the entrance, for example.  At Fleetville the M disc is there, slightly backward facing as is intended.

Something appears to be unique about the Fleetville store, and it hasn't always been this way.  Every other store has large illuminated signs identifying MORRISONS (of course, without the apostrophe) gleaming out in yellow.  Everyone of them!  Except at Fleetville where both examples of the sign stand out in white.

To prove it, the first photo was taken a few years ago – YELLOW.  The one below it was taken this week – WHITE.   The change must have taken place for a reason.  We will wait for a response from the company, but in the meantime, maybe a reader will have the answer.





The fate of East Lodge

In recent years East Lodge, in Oaklands Lane, had retired from the world, as if unhappy to show its face.  Surrounding trees had held a shadow over the property at the eastern end of the Oaklands estate's East Drive.  The last occupants had moved out and the windows were boarded over.  Rather odd, therefore, to see a satellite dish standing freshly out.  For some time the Lodge was crying out for some TLC, and a plan to set the lovely structure off in its immediate landscape, restricted as than might be.  Even the utility-styled vehicle barrier is off-putting, in a colour which might be called flaking blue.

East Lodge looks even more forlorn since the recent fire and the inevitable arrival of a barrier of HERAS fence sections.  What, I wonder will be the fate of this interesting little building?  Structurally, the walls appear sound, and the beautifully crafted chimney stack seems fine.  The front fascia timber work is still untouched by the blaze.  What a wonderful opportunity to bring this sentry home back to life.  Even if the college does not require it, the Lodge would make a Smallford home for a family.  Has anyone heard of a plan?