Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Smedley Fish & Chips: Roman Road, Taunton.


Smedley's chip shop, 15 September 1967, and the same location 43 years later. It's not every day that one's chippy gets a visit from the cast of Magical Mystery Tour; that much, at least, can safely be stated.
The story goes that the proprietors, James and Amy Smedley, were actually the grand-parents of "little" Nicola Yale (or Hale, as she was known), familiar from the film. Mrs Smedley's niece was apparently in charge of recruiting extras, and thus the Smedley-Yale-Hales got embroiled.
If so, then that's possibly Amy Smedley herself on the steps of the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, judging by the dress:


These days, the chippy is still used for such purposes, being a Chinese takeaway/"fish bar" called the Phoenix, and looking remarkably similar inside:


But what does all this matter, I hear you mutter? Errr...we'll get back to you on that one. Right, Ringo?


Thanks to Eric Nernie for the vintage Smedley's pic.

3 comments:

  1. Oh I could go a sausage supper now...:-)

    Loving the blog!
    shirley
    www.beatlestillidie.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the blog, too !

    Brilig

    ReplyDelete
  3. Footage now online: http://thespace.org/items/e0001554?t=m5jr

    ReplyDelete

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