Mechanical Memories Magazine

there until 1929. The sign proudly displayed above the main shop window in large gold
letters OLIVER WHALES High Class Milliner & Fancy Draper. This first business
venture was a great success and was soon to be followed by a second shop, which they
set up less than a mile away at 7 Moulsham Street. Things were going well for Oliver
and Helen and in 1921 they saw the arrival of their first child, a boy, who was proudly
named Peter Oliver after both his father and grandfather. Seven years later Peter was to
get a sister, when in 1928 Pauline Helen was born. As the family expanded, the
accommodation above Number 6 was starting to get a little cramped. As there was no
room to expand, Oliver took the decision to move the drapery business lock stock and
barrel to Ipswich, where they set up shop in newly refurbished premises at 45, 47 & 49
Westgate Street. At the same time, they took a recently built red brick town house at 21
Park Road, Ipswich, where Oliver, Helen, Peter, Pauline and Pauline's now ageing
mother Esther were to live. Sadly 1933 Esther passed away aged 77 years. Oliver was
now forging ahead with plans to open even more shops. Between 1929 and 193 3 he set
up more branches at 3 Head Street Colchester, Numbers 14/15 Electric Parade and 27
Station Road, Clacton-On-Sea. But 1933 was to be the year when everything changed
for Oliver; the financial world was still reeling from the shockwaves caused by the Wall
Street crash of 1929. Following the depression, his new shops were not doing as well as
he had expected. The banks were becoming more and more reluctant to back him, and
Oliver was fast running out of money. In an attempt to salvage what he could from the
situation, Oliver was forced to put his chain of shops into voluntary liquidation, but was
fortunate enough to avoid total bankruptcy. He managed to sell his newly renovated
shop in Ipswich to Jack Pelerman, a costumier. He also managed to dispose of his
property at Station Road, Clacton.
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LADIES' AND CHILDREN'S OUTFITTER.
6, HIGH STREET,
CHELMSFORD.
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