Shopping empire reunion

IF you walked into a Newhaven shop around 50 years ago it was likely to be owned by the Bannisters.

The family owned so many in the High Street, at one time it became known as the staircase because there were Bannisters on either side.

At the height of the family's success during the Second World War there were seven shops in Newhaven High Street.

As a result of supplying the armed forces and harbour, business boomed. The flagship store was where Woolworths now stands.

The shops were run by two sets of Bannister brothers, Clayton and Alan, and Robert and Harold.

Harold was the last Bannister to run a shop in town, at 30 High Street, retiring in 1986.

Last week, more than 150 years after the first shop opened in 1846, around 70 family members and former staff met at the Newhaven Museum, Paradise Park, for a trip down memory lane.

Harold's son Trevor, who owns Bannister's Contract Furnishers in Seaford, arranged the reunion.

He said: 'We were the mini Harrods of the area, there were no other retailers in the town. We had shops on both sides of the street and various member of the family had various trades.'

He remembered an Aladdin's cave of provisions and food to supply the troops at a time when normal people were still under strict rationing. His first job was cutting huge slabs of butter into pound and half-pound blocks.

The range of produce and services was diverse including groceries, furniture, building materials, confectionary, shoes and clothes. There was also a boat chandlers and undertakers.

Trevor hoped the reunion would become a regular event. 'The idea was to gather as many staff and members of the family together to remember times past.

'It really was a lovely, enjoyable day.'