NOW AND THEN: Rossiters butchers on Duckpool Road, Newport

THIS week's photo is of Fred Rossiter and his son’s butchers shop. It was across the road from Duckpool Road Baptist Church where I was married in 1960.

My auntie was married to one of Fred's brothers, I remember that the one son on the left was called Alan, Alan usually served me, but I can't remember the other brother's name. Although I was still in Maindee junior school, my mother used to send me to get the meat for the family Sunday Roast.

When I first started going it was a bit strange, but they soon got used to me, and always saw that they gave me the right joint of meat. On the corner of Church Road and Duckpool Road was another butchers called Palfrey's and that kept going when Rossiter's closed down. Next door to the Church on the right was where Mr Palfrey lived with his family and he used to mend clocks and watches.

Pat Cruickshank, Croesyceiliog

YOUR Now and Then photo of F. Rossiter & Sons on Duckpool Road brought back some wonderful memories of my past. I worked there many years ago as a butcher. Alan and Graham the two sons took over the shop from their father, they ran it for years.

They then sold it to T. H Sutcliffe Meal Wholesale. Alan bought a hotel in Torquay with his wife Renee and his sister and thrived there for many years. Before his death, his brother bought a restaurant and pub in Llantrisant. Graham and his wife are still alive.

They had a lovely family shop and it did very well. There was also a gentlemen who worked there for all his working life for about 60 years. His name was Fred Wanacott. What was so unique was he was not supposed to live past his teens, he had autism, but he lived well into his 70s. He worked there all his life. They made excellent sausage and sold them on a large scale. They made up the bulk of their trade selling the cheaper parts of the beef (forequarters) but it was well hung for maturing and was liked by the many customers.

Arthur Spencer, Newport

THE Butchers shop shown in the “then” photograph was located on the corner of Duckpool Road and Leicester Road in Maindee. It belonged to my father’s brother ‘Fred’ shown in the middle of the picture among with his sons Alan and Graham.

He also had a premises across the road where he use to make his sausages. A bag of which I always took home to my mother whenever I visited the family home in Leicester Road.

I believe the photograph was taken to show the longevity of the time Uncle Fred had work there as a boy and eventually his ownership of it. When it closed it first became a solicitors.

Mel Rossiter, Newport

THE photograph shows Rossiter’s Butchers shop in Duckpool Road, Newport. My mother was a regular customer for many years. My family was registered at the shop during the war (for rationing purposes) and as a small child I often went there with my mother.

In those days Mrs Rossiter worked in the shop too. The photo shows Mr Rossiter and his two sons, who eventually took over the business. They were such a nice family, so kind and helpful.

Mary Jones, Newport

IT’S F. Rossiter & Sons on Duckpool Road. I remember it clearly in the 1940s from that area of Newport. I remember the family well. I lived not far from Duckpool Road. The shop was on the corner of Duckpool Road and Leicester Road. The Rossiter family also lived on Leicester Road.

Unfortunately, most of the shops on Duckpool Road have now been boarded up. It’s nice to see that the shops on Caerleon road have survived compared to Maindee.

Mr Rossiter was very well respected in the community, with two songs and two daughters.

Cliff James, Cwmbran