1860's The Barham family took over 'Nell Gwynne's Dairy' at 272 Strand in 1840. It was said to "have been a dairy since the reign of Charles II, when the Strand was a country lane surrounded by green fields." From 1935 May-Dairymaid Magazine 47-Edited Highlight (Express Dairy Tales Archive)
1935 Locations of London Express Dairy Shops, compiled from Post Office Directory of that year.
1950's Express Supermarkets Delivery Truck MGF 764
1950's Express Shop. Roger Frost comments "That’s a 7 ton BMC FE used for deliveries to the retail shops. It would have had a double deck body with a tail lift. Express Dairy were, I believe, one of the first companies to use a double deck vehicle like this at that time. Hard to estimate the actual year, the FEs were produced from the mid to the late 1950s. I will estimate that it’s between the years 1958 and 1962.
1952 'The Express Dairy' Booklet
1952 'The Express Dairy' Booklet
1954 30 year award ceremony at the Trocadero Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus - signed menu (Courtesy Paul Smith)
1954 30 year award ceremony at the Trocadero Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus - signed menu (Courtesy Paul Smith)
1954 30 year award ceremony at the Trocadero Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus - believed to be the ladies who signed the menu (Courtesy Paul Smith)
2001 'Flashback' article from Express News, featuring the story of Express shops and supermarkets. (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
Mrs Patricia Moore of the Window Display Dept
1957 Chalk Farm Printing and Window Display department. (Express News March)
1957 (Express News March)
1957 (Express News March)
1958 Window Display competition at the St John's Hill restaurant at Clapham Junction. (Express News July)
1958 Window Display competition at the St John's Hill restaurant at Clapham Junction had all lady winners. (Express News July)
1958 Uxbridge houses three different departments - Cafeteria, Supermarket and Retail Depot
1958 Uxbridge houses three different departments - Cafeteria, Supermarket and Retail Depot - some of the key members of staff.
1960's, TH Lewis, 20-year Long Service, part of Bob Wastell's collection from his son, Brian Wastell. Brian comments "I can identify some of the people-the man with glasses standing behind Mr Nell is Stan Cardy. My dad Bob Wastell is on Mr. Nell's right, above his hand. All men are part of the shop-fitting team, formerly Lewis's." (Courtesy Brian Wastell)
1964 Promotional Shop Paper Bag (Courtesy Richard Gaylard)
1965 D. Smith, shops supervisor for South East London. (Express News Spring)
1965 London Management Dinner (April Express News)
1966 Cheese promotion at London Shops-Sheen Lane, Richmond Park, and St Margarets (Twickenham). Featuring Mrs V Taylor, who lived above the Sheen Lane Shop. (Express News Summer 1966)
1966 Shop Management Dinner (Courtesy Beryl Purslove)
1969 Joe Birch appointed Shop Merchandising Manager. (Express News Spring)
1972 Shops Conference
1972 Shops Conference
1972 Shops Conference
1972 New Retail Management structure in London. (Express News Spring)
1972 New Retail Management structure in London. (Express News Spring)
1972 New London Shops Management structure. (Express News Spring)
1972 London Shops trainer John Taylor receives a Grocer's Award. (Express News Spring)
1973 Steve Lorton with Shops Director Gwyn Connolly. Hilary Mccluskey/Bowyer comments "Steve Lorton was one of my first bosses at Ruislip, who I had great respect for. He was a lovely gentleman, always ready to listen and give you his time and support. He was the first Senior Manager I met who actually supported the fact that WOMEN receive the Title of Manager instead of Supervisor when carrying out very responsible jobs.He assisted in my fight for my position to be re-graded to Express Dairy Payroll Manager, later to became Express Foods Group Payroll Manager." (Express News Autumn)
1973 London Shops staff celebrate. (Express News Autumn)
1973 London Shops staff celebrate. (Express News Autumn)
1975 John Travers Clarke announces Don Kirby's move to Western Region Director, and closure of London shops. (Express News Autumn)
1977 Shops Director Gwyn Connolly. (Express News Summer)
1979 Shopping trends. (Express News Summer)
1981 A day in the life of South London
1981 A day in the life of South London
1981 A day in the life of South London
2023 Previous Express Shop, London Bridge station (Courtesy Ken Simmons)
2023 Previous Express Shop, London Bridge station (Courtesy Ken Simmons)
