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Reunion Of Former Jeffery’s Sports And Gun Shop Staff Sparks A Bit Of History
Published on: 10 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 24 Feb, 2019
A reunion of former staff who worked at Jeffery’s sports shop in Guildford High Street has prompted a look back at the once extremely well-known business.
Pictured by Geoff Burch at the Jeffery’s reunion: back row: John Maple, Paul Avenall, Andy Wright, Danny Edser, Tony Manville and Martin Fuller. Front row: Sue Maple, Joan Eadie, Jane Eadie. Click on all pictures to enlarge in a new window.
The reunion took place at the Manor Inn in Godalming on Friday (October 7) and Geoff Burch from Worplesdon attended– not that he was ever an employee, but a loyal customer!
Geoff, who is himself well known for his Rambling Railwayman books and the custodian of the late David Salmon’s photograph archive, said: “I was a regular customer at Jeffery & Son from about 1974 when I became interested in clay pigeon shooting.
I bought five guns there over the years as well as numerous fishing rods and tackle. I therefore got to know all the staff well and was invited to their reunion. Unfortunately, not all members of former staff who were invited could attend, but I took this picture of those who did.”
Geoff has done some research into the history of the shop that finally closed on August 31, 2001, after trading for 150 years. He has also supplied these vintage pictures.
Back row from left on the step: Martin Fuller, Nick Hal, Jason Strudwick and Tony Manville. Front row from left on the pavement: Danny Edser, Harold Hall, Donald Eadie, Jim Evans and John Maple.
The business came to Guildford in 1851 when Richard Jeffery of Farnham took over the gun making business of Henry Piper, who was trading at 118 High Street.
Richard traded at what was then 17 High Street, (close to Jeffries Passage) which got its name from chemist Henry Jeffries whose shop traded there from 1815 to the late 1950s.
Over the years, various members of the Jeffery family took over the gun and sports shop moving their premises to 137 High Street in 1863 (which has since been renumbered) until 1986 when the family decided to end its association with the business.
Going back in time, when Richard Jeffery died in 1877, the business was handed down to his nephew Samuel Richard Jeffery. He continued the tradition of gunmaking but also started selling bicycles in 1890.
Soon after the turn of the century, they also started selling motorcycles and the former motorcycle shop (which was situated in Tunsgate) was devoted to selling the machines not only to the general public but also to Surrey Constabulary for traffic control.
No mobile phones in those days, and the shop in the High Street and the motorcycle shop in Tunsgate were connected via a speaking tube, while in the secluded garden behind the premises there was even a swimming pool.
Samuel Jeffery died in 1928 and was succeeded by his son Harold who formed a limited company and traded under the name S.R. Jeffery and Son Ltd.
Owners and staff pictued in the garden behind the shop. Back row, from left: Alf Paice, a mechanic name unknown, Jim Evans, Dudley Baker, Ray Foulkes, Carl ‘Lofty’, Frank Hall, Alan Butt, Ken Tuffs, Sid (?), Harold Hall, Peter Gerring, Walter Brookes, another machanic name unknown and Wally Tuffs. Front row seated, from left: Miss Radford, Donald Jeffery, Reg Ashwell, Harold Jeffery, Mr Green, Donald Eadie, Jack Jeffery and Jenny Young. Seated on the grass: Stephen (?) and John Maple.
It was sold to John and James Marchington who, in turn, sold it to their cousins David and Ian Watson, who continued to trade under the name Jeffery & Son Ltd.
The Grade II listed building was long overdue for refurbishment and because of the costs of such an undertaking (which included a plastered ceiling embossed with birds and animals), they decided to surrender the lease to the freeholders, Sun Life of Canada in 2001.
The building is also thought to have been an inn (called the Green Man) in the 18th century and the original cellars remain.
A view inside showing that the shop was extremely well stocked!
Do you have any memories of Jeffery’s shop? If so, please leave a reply in the box below.
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Responses to Reunion Of Former Jeffery’s Sports And Gun Shop Staff Sparks A Bit Of History
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Matt Joule
October 10, 2016 at 11:24 am
I worked at Jeffery’s in the mid to late 1980s.
First in the gun department and then in the Barbour/country clothing department.
We had regular customers like Eric Clapton, Nick Faldo and the Sultan of Oman.
It was a great place to work as a young lad just leaving school.
Although obviously everyone is looking older, I still recognise Danny, Martin, Tony, Andy, John and Paul in this top picture.
Patricia Wright
November 5, 2023 at 11:21 am
My husband Dr Alan Wright worked at Jeffrey’s after leaving the Met Police in 1985. He worked upstairs in the fishing and gun room.
Is it possible any one remembers him or has any photos. I am afraid my dearly beloved died 2nd September 2, this year.
I can remember how much loved working at Jeffrey’s. He lived in Romsey, Hampshire with his first wife . It would be lovely to know he was remembered.
The Guardian newspaper has an obituary with his picture. Someone may recognise him.
A Tatlow
October 10, 2016 at 12:31 pm
I can remember from my childhood the smell -leathery, rubbery, woody – exciting and full of promise. An Aladdin’s cave to explore and enthuse.
Over the following years I remember helpful, knowledgable staff guiding me as my interests expanded: swimming costumes; tennis rackets, balls and socks; a bicycle; ski gear; and starting again for my children, football boots.
Still sorely missed.
Christopher Fairs
October 10, 2016 at 12:38 pm
A very interesting article and photographs but I can’t see the man who seemed to be in charge, as well as serving customers, whenever I went in there in the 1950s and 60s. I always presumed he was a member of the Jefferey family. He was of short to medium height and always wore a tweed suit or tweed jacket and tie.
Sandy Cavalier
October 10, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Loved that shop all my speedo swimming costumes came from there. Also remember swimming in the swimming pool in Mr Jeffrey’s garden, at the back of the shop. He was a Rover scout, as was my late father, Billie Virgo.
Jerry Sumpster
October 10, 2016 at 3:52 pm
I worked at the shop on Saturdays in the late 1970 and on into the 80s and have very fond memories of the shop and all of the staff. It is lovely to see some of them in the reunion picture.
Dave Middleton
October 10, 2016 at 4:57 pm
I seem to remember a small rifle range in the back yard of the shop where you could try out air rifles – or am I getting mixed up with somewhere else?
David Yoxall
October 10, 2016 at 6:16 pm
A legend …
I worked as a ‘Saturday boy’ 1976 to 1979, and for a brief period as a full-time member of staff.
So many memories, and so many names and faces in the pictures above.
A sad loss to Guildford, but that’s what they call progress!
Paul Carter
February 18, 2017 at 4:39 pm
In response to David Yoxall. I think I worked with him at Jeffery’s in the 70s. Did he live at Dunsfold aerodrome? I lived at Albury.
If it is him I would like to get in touch, and chat about the past. I think his father might have been the production manager.
Philip Mills
December 11, 2018 at 2:16 pm
An unconnected response to Paul Carter on the off chance he owned a Buell M2 Cyclone Motorcycle from new in 1999.
If so I would be grateful to make contact as I am buying the bike and was hoping to verify the details I have been given about it.
Geoff Ryan
October 10, 2016 at 6:42 pm
Sid ? in the photo above was Sid Barrett, who ran the bicycle shop.
He was a wonderful man and as kids me and my best friend Alan, spent many hours in the bike shop learning all about everything from puncture repair to wheel balancing and so much more.
He was endlessly patient and always had time for us. Great to see the photo. Whoever posted it, thankyou.
The picture was taken in Mr Jeffery’s back garden with the multi-storey behind car park. I was in the cubs and often used to swim in the pool in the garden.
Nigel Sturgess
October 10, 2016 at 9:53 pm
Jefferys and La Boulangerie next door were icons of Guildford High Street.
Happy days.
C Barker
October 11, 2016 at 8:19 am
I remember buying my air guns and pellets as a nipper from there, the place was a tardis, happy days.
Clare Gibbins
October 16, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Donald Eadie was my Grandpa. I have very happy childhood memories. We spent a lot of time in the shop when we were young mainly in the office annoying Sue and Mags.
L. Edge
November 8, 2016 at 9:09 pm
It is so interesting to read this information. A relative of mine told me that Jeffery’s used to have a special collection of guns, which were kept at the shop. Does anybody know what happened to this, when the shop closed?
Pamela Patten
September 8, 2017 at 7:03 am
I remember my mum working there in the office for a while, must have been in the late 1950s.
John Gordon Martin
January 17, 2018 at 8:02 am
I remember going to Jefferies back in the 70s and 80s. I dealt with Brooksy and Tony.
I bought and sold guns there and also purchased cartridges.
I had an account with which I could purchase anything. It had no upper limit!
Tony F Geist
January 18, 2018 at 1:31 pm
I bought my first new motorcycle at Jefferies in September 1957. Cannot recall the registration number. It was a Matchless G80S and cost £225. I collected 45 £5 notes from the Post Office and went to the showroom via Tunsgate. I had been saving for two and a half years whilst overseas in the RAF.
While still at school I used to purchase pellets and crow scarers from the High Street outlet. For those who don’t know crow scarers were a type of powerful firework banger attached in tandem to a slow burning rope like fuse. When removed from the rope they were ideal for schoolboys to blow up tin cans etc.
Peter Akerman
January 23, 2018 at 11:21 pm
I have a photograph of what I believe may be my great grandfather posing with a horse and carriage advertising the name Akerman carrier also advertising George Welburns Taylor’s Outfitters 118 High Street Guildford. I hope this may be of help to you.
Matt Farrow
November 19, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Hello. Fantastic reading. I would very much like to hear about the motorcycle side of the business. I have a 1963 Matchless motorcycle that was supplied from new from Jefferys. It had been registered a long time before being sold to the first owner at Loxwood.
I have this information on the old ‘Buff Logbook’. Please please pass this on to former employees. I have owned the bike for close to 40 years and intend to go back to the former premises for a photo or two with the bike. I live in Rochester, Kent.
Bob Bentley
January 4, 2019 at 6:42 am
I have recently purchased a side by side and was initially interested in when it had originally been sold and to whom. However in attempting to get the gun operating again, it was found that some backyard gunsmith changed out most of the internals, so I am now looking for spare parts, at present to no avail.
If someone can help it would be much appreciated.I live in Mount Isa north-west Queensland.
Mark Raymond
May 24, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Sad that such a lovely business should close. My father, Peter Raymond, used to work for ASI who supplied Jeffreys. Dad always said they were a pleasure to do business with.
Richard Moore
August 20, 2019 at 8:53 pm
I bought many guns from Walter Brookes at Jeffery’s during my time at Greenfields of Salisbury.
He lived at Onslow Village and had a great way with clients.
He sold many hundreds of new Aya and Webley guns.
Jonathan Stiles
September 24, 2019 at 2:53 pm
My only reasons for entering Guildford were haircuts from Phil at Clippers or to buy cartridges from Jeffrey’s.
I knew Martin Fuller from Godalming College. And Chris Young.
Where did all that time go?
Paul Wilkinson
September 3, 2020 at 4:45 pm
I worked with Derek And Richard in the gunroom for a year or so, I still have stuff I bought from there in my employment.
Raymond Foulkes
December 3, 2020 at 8:58 pm
I featured in the back row with the wall behind and the entrance to the car park just over the wall in the passage behind. That’s where I used to park my Mini sometimes if there was no space left on the ground floor of the car park.
To our right, was another higher wall which housed the gun range butt. Believe it or not, we used to take customers into the garden and we would shoot live 12 bore cartridges into a paper target to illustrate the spread of shot: the more even the pattern the better the gun.
The shop was brilliant as were both Mr and Mrs Jeffery who, in my time, lived above the shop. Also in my day, we could play on his a 2/3rds snooker table in the front room.
This all changed to become part of the shop in, approximately, 1970. The gun department later moved upstairs to a back room after Mr and Mrs Jeffery had moved out. They never had children.
Someone talked of the owner in a comment but his name was Mr W E Brookes (my boss in the gun department). He is in the picture.
Mr Jeffery was a Scout and a friend of the founder of that movement and yes we boys could have used the swimming pool but never did.
SR Jeffery put their names on guns finished in Guildford, mostly small-bore double barrel .410, 20 and 16 bores, one of which sold in the USA recently for $6,000.
Victor Burke
February 16, 2021 at 5:34 am
Fantastic to read about the history of this historic company.
I have a very old twin-barrel flintlock pistol with the name “Piper Guildford” engraved on it. I’ve spent hours in vain on the internet trying to get more information on this pistol. Can somebody please assist by telling me who to contact for more info on this pistol?
Grahame Wickham
November 2, 2021 at 5:54 pm
The scout troop that’s been mentioned was 9th Guildford. I too can remember swimming in the pool also getting changed in the small pavilion. Some great memories.
It was always cold, especially in the winter. It came to an end when they built the multi-storey car park next to and overlooking the garden. Some people thought it was a good idea to throw rubbish into the pool this would have been anything they could find, fire extinguishers, but a lot of bottles, and broken glass. It was a real shame.
Trevor Sutton
January 8, 2022 at 3:35 pm
I remember fondly working as a Saturday boy from 1966 to 1967 with Ken Tuffs, Alan Butt etc. Wonderful times.
Andrew Campbell
April 21, 2022 at 7:51 pm
I remember purchasing a BSA Mercury air rifle with birthday money in 1975 and squash equipment a few years later.
I knew the shop well, my father was an optician at the top of the High Street.
Neville Bolding
February 6, 2023 at 6:36 pm
In 2011 I bought an AJS motorcycle from the estate of its only previous owner, Arthur Ellis, who I believe was the owner of Jeffery’s Motorcycles when it closed (in the late 70s?).
I’ve several photos of the interior and exterior of the shop and of Arthur Ellis and his Saturday Boy, Kevin.
I was recently emailed by a guy in Norway who is having difficulty trying to register a 1959 Matchless motorbike that was originally supplied by Jeffery’s but he needs more evidence of its UK origin and/or registration details which I’m trying to find for him.
Fred Smith
November 7, 2023 at 10:30 am
I worked there as a junior sales assistant from September 1955 until May 1956 before I joined Guildford Police as a cadet. It was super place to work with Walter Brookes as its manager who was an expert selling guns and Walley Tuffts as its cricket expert.
It also had a shop in Tunsgate from where they sold motor cycles. There was a workshop upstairs in the Hgh Street shop where they mended guns, and tennis rackets.
Think of any any sports equipment and they sold it, including fishing rods and tackle. There was gun powder magazine in the garden where the swimming pool was because they used to load and sell their own shot gun cartridges.
They had a similar shop in Salisbury. I could talk for ever about it. Is there anybody who can go back further than me? I am 83 years young now.