IN response to your Echo letter (‘Beales in the 1950s’ from Jeremy Rowe of Stratford London), my mother worked for Beales before and after the war and she used to serve Nigel Beale with his tea when he come from school so hence my first name!

I too remember the council’s mayoral robes on display on the fourth floor stairway and now I find myself a Bournemouth (BCP Council) councillor so maybe it inspired me ?

I am so sad to see Beales close. I worked there, I bought a franchise business situated in there and my children worked there. The memories of such a magical building and its awe inspiring contents, and the family of Beales employees who cared so much for it, will last a long time, long after everyone is buying off the internet.

NIGEL P HEDGES

Bourne Engraving, Granville Place, Bournemouth