Who remembers Malcolm Mitchells in High Street Old Town Hastings?

Photo Bob Mitchell. shared from Hastings and Area Past and Present Facebook page

HAPP… It’s 25th March, 1988 and the well-known army surplus store Malcolm Mitchell’s in the High Street, closed. It had opened in 1946. The photo was supplied by Bob Mitchell who wrote “Anyone remember my Uncle Malcom’s shop in the High street where my dad Tom worked with him and the other brothers? Great days.”

Pete Fisher… Bought my fire service greatcoat there, and my first electric guitar, a no-name solid body for ten quid…

Lynda Whatley… I remember it well – it was just along from Judges who baked AMAZING Bread !

Lucy Pappas… Great shop!

Tony Court-holmes…  if born in the old town all of us. Piles of boots left one side and right the other and if you wanted laces you had copper wire we never had it so good

Jacqueline Marsh… I loved going in there and having a nose round, so many amazing things and so cheap too. It always had a dry musty smell, think is was from the old uniforms and rubber on things. Wonderful shop. Judges were famous for their Nelson cake, made up of stale cakes and loads of sugary stuff, they were always such a treat

Russell Field…  Loved that shop !

Dizz Corinne Ryder… I remember the “old” musty smell when I passed the shop and all the ex-army boots and clothes piled up. think they found a secret room off the main shop area when it was sold.

Alan Esdaile… I can still smell it by just looking at the photo!

John Busbridge… I bought a flying hat in there 50 odd years ago and I still wear it in my vintage car. Also bought a Military Flute and Fife which I’ve still got, I was learning Nights in White Satin!

Jacquie Hinves… The Moody Blues. I can’t forget that song! I was sweet on a guy called Lesley Sharpe. His dad owned the Volvo dealership/ garage in Silverhill. Oh memories! Loved it. So many smells and memories.

John Wilde… I clothed my funky self from Malcolms.

Angela Frances Gardner… I bought my boiler suit from there

Jonathan Mendenhall… remember it well

Pete Brazier… I Remember with great joy all the things I got from there, and there were a few things I remember missing out on cos I couldn’t get back in time before they sold out ”Great Times!”

Jeanette Jones… I had a very warm all wool nurses cape from there

William Wallace… work boots…loads of um lol

Dave Nattress… Malcolm’s Boutique we called it. Used to go over with a couple of friends late 60’s early 70’s as they worked in sheet metal fabrication and needed steel toecap boots. Piles of boots to sort through to get a pair of the same size. Long forgotten Malcolm’s – good memory! Think we also got our weekend hippie great coats there also. I remember the ex. fire service ones. How hideous we looked!!!

Tony Court-holmes… no it was hip man

Steve Cooke… Remember going through the piles of stuff. Great place. Shame it ever closed.

David Edwards… Malcolm’s Boutique clothed half of the geezers in Hastings

James Johnson… Great shop

Tony Edwards… The late 60’s and I bought my work boots there, after I joined up I realised just how useless the service boots were. Great shop

Sophie Ash… Hemp rope, canvas, iron chain, enamel utility wares – hipsters would have given the shop and it’s contents some kind of super-sacred Grade I listed status.

Peter Bridger… Used to buy loads of work gear from there

Lloyd Johnson… I remember buying a gas mask case there in the early 60s to put my OXO tin of sandwiches in when working in the Gypsum mines at Robertsbridge.

John Williams… It was the shop for the mods

Mike Waghorne… We used to call it Malcoms boutique late 60’s early 70’s , exmilitary gear trench coats ect

Ian Johnson… Mum used to take me there to get my jeans as they had longer ones for my long legs

Jo Turner… Every army jacket i wore

Tim Moose Bruce… Quite often closed with a note I the window “Gone fishing with the lads”.

Paul Tublord… The biggest pile of boots i ever seen.

Roger Simmonds… Wonderfull old army surplus shop, good old days back then !

Sue Colebrook-Gentry… I lived a few doors down late 60’s and early 70’s and bought all my bell bottom trousers there , a bit itchy but very fashionable.

Judith Monk… It was full of ‘useful’ stuff! And had a smell of its own. Loved it.

Keith Veness… Brought all my work clothes here

Steve May… When I was doing my Art Foundation at Hastings College we used to buy calico from there for painting canvas – the rumour was that if he knew you were an art student buying it for painting on he’d charge you more! : )

Stephen Kolimbarides… That’s where I used to go for my parkas in the 60s.

David Edwards… Malcolm’s boutique for everything you could want.

Lynda Whatley… Remember it well – it certainly had a “ special aroma “ in there !! Like rubber and oil – loved a rummage even as a youngster back in the day

Graham Sherrington… The smell was amazing. I bought a submariners coat it was the biz in the rain

Jacqueline Marsh… Had a smell all of its own, loved browsing in there.

Jonathan Mendenhall… Yes shame to see the old town character gone now..trendy and no real locals..

Russell Field… Loved the smell of that place

William Wallace… Loved a rummage in there

Willie Wicking… My dad has half that shop in his garage I remember that smell of old rope & canvas

Lucy Pappas… I bought the itchy sailor trousers there, too. Took off the waistband and made them hipsters! Loved them x

Amanda Hilton… My Nan used to buy her saucepans from there. Happy memories !!!

Yvonne Cleland… The locals can no longer afford to live there!!!!!!!!!!

Caroline Gurden… remember the army surplus shop, possibly next to the launderette!?

Ken Dengate… Wow, post bombing, pre rebuilding. Used to get boots from Mitchels Boutique.

Thomas Malcolm Mitchell… I was at Malcolms’ funeral together with my brother Kevin Mitchell in All Saints Church. Unfortunately I don’t remember the date. My father Jack Mitchell worked in the shop together with Jim and Tom my uncles. They won’t be forgotten.

Alan Esdaile… Thomas Mitchell would like to get back in contact with his cousin Bob Mitchell. Please message me and I will pass on details. Thank you.

Eric Burgess… Loved to rummage in Malkies boutique back in the day . Always bargains to be had!