A few doors down from Randell’s was Ling’s the
Chemist, at Number 13, further down the Market
Place. They sold a great variety of merchandise,
from cosmetics for the discerning lady to cameras
and photographic equipment for the gentleman,
medical supplies and ‘sickroom’ requisites (the
mind boggles!), and just about everything to keep
baby happy and comfy in its nappy!

“Aileen, my wife, opened the door and went
inside Ling’s the Chemists, leaving me outside on
the doorstep to gently rock the pram in a vain
attempt to quieten baby Julian, who, by now, was
wide awake and complaining vociferously for his
lunchtime feed!”

On other occasions I would go into the shop for a
supply of 35mm film for our Halina camera. Even
though money was in rather short supply in those
early days we tried, when we could afford it, to keep
a photographic record of our little son growing up.

“One day I developed a nasty bout of toothache.
Someone suggested a Tincture of Oil of Cloves was
very good, so I bought a small bottle in Ling’s and
applied it, as the Pharmacist directed, with cotton
wool onto the affected molar. As if by magic the
pain subsided – for a while... but soon returned with a vengeance, so a visit to the dentist around
the corner, was called for. His name? Mr Pitt-
Steele! A most flamboyant character, with
extremely colourful shirts and language to match!”

Boots, ‘Your Local Pharmacy’, has now replaced
Ling’s the Chemist in the Market Place – though it
still proclaims ‘R M Ling’, in coloured glass above
the door!

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

RETURN TO NORTH WALSHAM