I believe my Grt. Grandfather William Wintle, was a Licensed Vitular at the Black Horse, Queen St, Mansfield, where Syd Booths Shop stood. Could you tell me any information about this fact. My tracing my Family History.Thankyou yours sincerely Sheila Heald

I am the adpoted son of William (Bill) Booth and have many memories and stories about my dads running of the business together with his brother Fred, after the death of Syd. The article did not mention the shop we had for a short time in the old market square next to Cornercopia which is now opposite the libary and is today a cafe. We also rented TV's in the early part of the 70's and 80's, having a repair shop on Broomhill Lane directly opposite Bould Street. It is good to know that people still remember the family buisness with such fondness so please keep sending your memories in.

My memories of Syd Booths were

1 / That it was truly a Fine example of how a Business should be run. The staff were always friendly- courteous - knowledgeable and go to great lengths to assist you.

2/ There was no high pressure selling and nothing was too much trouble and their advice was exceptional and honest in content be it Records Hi Fi or TV They would bend over backwards to meet your requirements. The most remarkable memory of Syd himself was in the days of the 78's when you asked for a particular recording he would quote its number and the Label. I remember on one occasion when a friend of mine at the time asked for what was a new release . He asked for a copy of Trumpet Voluntary but Syd knowing our taste in music corrected him and produced Harry James & His Orchestra playing Trumpet Blues and Cantabile quoting number and playing the same for us . Syd knew his Records, who was on what Label and his customers taste, a Truly Remarkable Man

My great, great, great Uncle Edward Clay was the licensed victualler of the Black Horse Inn, Queen St in the 1881 & 1891 Census.

Comments spot on mgr they used to write the record down possible the number artist etc every time ,and if you wanted to know anything about any record Syd was always helpfull no HMV shops in those days ,happy memories yes Syd was a truly remarkable man to all the Mansfield people

p.s wonder what the shop is now ?

As a teenager in the" Swinging Sixties" I and my friends spent many happy hours in Syd Booth's, we waited with baited breath every week to see the charts outside the shop. This was iconic everyone knew about the chart on the wall! What great memories.

Ozzie, that is a name from my past, did you use to frequent The Crown on Stockwell gate?

A memory to me when I was a conductor on traction and making my name as a local DJ was to nip in between bus trips listen to the imports and new releases,picking up the very first (I believe)R Dean Taylor's "Lets Go Somewhere"on VIP and playing it the same night at the horse and Groom or Bellevue(known as "Colours Discoteques") on Rosemary street, wonderful people and the bus stops on Queen Street where so close to the hub of Mansfields retail life hub, all changed when they pulled down half of inner Mansfield"Granada Cinema" etc and built the shoppin centre.

Surely on the photograph the gentleman on the left is John North who is involved and runs the JAZZ CLUB at the Unwin Road Social Club at Sutton-in-Ashfield. A very knowledgeable and a sociable character who spent years in the Record Section before he moved upstairs to sell HI Fi and TV's. He would personalize equipment deliver and install the same. My personal equipment which he provided me with is still in use today, some 40yrs old That is most of it is really good stuff, provided on his advice, and as amplifiers etc became more advanced he supplied replacements of superior nature. I took Johns advice, there was never any high pressure selling to which we are subjected today just very good advice from all the staff be them Syd's Family or those who he employed. Pity we cannot turn the clock back.

Sad to realise that there is now no music or record type shop in Mansfield. I remember well buying records/tapes/posters in Syd Booth's in the four seasons,then "Revolver" as it became. Now HMV is closing as with its many other counterpart stores countrywide. Anyone remember "Our Price" up near where Jonathon James was, and Andy's Records?? Used to call in here from work and get tapes and CD's. Mansfield has lost a lot over the years.

I used to frequent Syd Booth's as early as the late 40s and all through the 50s. Sid, Bill and the third guy, whose name I can't recall, plus John who joined the team later, were so knowledgeable. I'd pop in during school dinner hour and they almost always had what I wanted. They'd also suggest other titles that would be of interest. Happy days!