fred_foster

The shopping bills above kindly provided by the family of Lol Foster [ not related to The shop owners ] are from 1965, and 1940 the 1965 one gives us a great indication of how inflation, the V. A. T. , and joining the common market greatly escalated the cost of living. Five loaves of bread for less than seven shillings back then, makes you weep doesn't it?

Fred, son George, and grandson Graham Foster were well known by all their customers and people spoke of them with fond recall. The business thrived and served the three local communities featured on these web pages. Veronica MarshalI ex pupil of St. Gerards School writes:- I remember that Fosters were very generous with an apple for every child one year and also Mr Cartlidge from the papershop donating sweets. I think you will agree that Fosters did their bit for both the miners strikes and the steel strike, I remember both Graham and his father having a sense of community spirit and never forgot who their customers were.

Fosters Shop and Fred Kelly on a penny farthing bike The photo on the left kindly provided by Nadia Simpson is a scene outside Fosters when Fred Kelly and the Thrybergh Wheelers Club were taking part in a parade.
The Foster family lived at Glenville, on Doncaster Road Old Thrybergh.
The shop not only served the locals, it also provided many of them with employment, my sister worked in the haberdashery, and Jonathan Dabs who provided the photo above fondly remember their time working at Fosters. Fred was was superseded by his son George, and then grandson Graham who ran the business from around the early 1960's. With the advent of the Supermarket Giants, Fosters like many smaller businesses found the competition to strong and the once thriving Shop was struggling. However not to be found wanting when it comes to a change in direction the Family business established a Garden Centre on Doncaster Road Thrybergh, which as far as I can gather is a successful venture. The old shop has become The Rotherham Bonding Co. still owned by the Fosters I am informed.

George Foster's son was Graham, and Albert Foster had two children, Keith and Ruby. May had a son Kenneth Fell born at Bramley in 1917, died 1987 and Leonard Fell born at Foster's store, 1919, died 2004.

In 2006 I was contacted by Andrew Metcalf who is a member of the Foster family and has become successful in the World of I.T.
Andrew writes:-
John, my mom (Ruby) was Alberts daughter together with her brother Keith, when I was a youngster I used to work for Graham, Robert and John at the supermarket.

Andrew Metcalf AMetcalf@remarc.co.uk
Managing Director Remarc Technologies Ltd U/K

Fosters Garden Centre

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Dabs Judging by the amount of cars the Garden centre is really flourishing, apart from selling plants and materials to the green thumb brigade the shop has a coffee House within the stone building which was built around the mid 1600's.

For you antique collectors, well Fosters caters for you to. You can also do a bit of sightseeing in the immediate vicinity, as St Leonard's Church and other historic structures are a five minute walk away.

Thanks to the following.

Colin Fell colin_fell@msn.com who is researching the Family History and would like to hear of any stories or memories.

related to the Fosters

Andrew Metcalf AMetcalf@remarc.co.uk
Veronica Marshall
Jonathan Dabs
John Doxey
Add your memories of Fosters here Email John Doxey

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