Remember The Tuck Shop?

[LadyCG]

What was your favourite thing from the Tuck Shop? It was usually something savoury for me, like pickled onion Space Raiders or Spicy Nik Naks. When I went to secondary school we went to the canteen at lunch time and I used to love the warm buns from the oven, spread thickly with just-made icing. 

What treats do you remember from your school days?

[bookbinder]

I'm sorry to be a bit of a killjoy, but when I was at school, tuck shops hadn't been invented. I missed out on that treat, it seems. I began school (infants department) in about 1944 or so, and I left at the age of 15, which would be about 1950. I'll have to rely on younger ABers to tell me all about tuck shop treats.

[jazzyjen]

Wagon Wheels were 2p each but they were much bigger back then!

[LadyCG]

Sorry to hear that, BB. Do you remember the tiny bottles of milk? I used to be a milk monitor but never drank it myself.  

[ichkeria]

I remember our small primary school introducing a tuck shop in the multi-purpose staff room. I was an oddity in that I didn't like sweets, other than sherbet with liquorice sticks.

But we had the legendary Tayto crisps, which are the best crisps in the British Isles and I am amazed have never really been exported to GB, although I did see cheese and onion on sale in London once ...

[Prudie]

Potato Puffs were a favourite of mine plus ours sold ice-cream in the summer. There was a lolly by Walls caled Whiz (I think) anyway it was banana ice-cream with soft toffee centre a bit like Rolo toffee. It was out of this world.

[LadyCG]

I remember, Jazzyjen. I was never keen on them myself. If I had something with chocolate on, it was usually a Drifter.  They seemed more popular and abundant in those days.

[ichkeria]

The weird thing is, although I didn't like sweets I remember you could get 8 disgusting things called blackjacks for a penny.

And I am sure I remember something called penny diklers (!) which sounds like something that should not be sold in a primary school. I just tried googling with no result (maybe just as well 😀)

[LadyCG]

That must have been an upscale school you went to, Prudie. We never had icecream. The kiddo's school has an icecream van when they have their summer fayre. Strangely the little one doesn't like it.

I don't remember Tayto crisps, Ich. I have heard them mentioned though.

[bookbinder]

Yes, LadyCG, I do remember those bottles of milk. If memory serves me correctly, they had cardboard discs as tops, and we could push a drinking straw through the middle. I, also, was a milk monitor. (Responsible job, eh?)

[LadyCG]

One feels so important at that age, standing behind a desk and taking everyone's money (5p back in my time). 😄

[ichkeria]

"I don't remember Tayto crisps, Ich. I have heard them mentioned though."

Only available in NI as far as I know (tho I did see them once, as I say) Cheese and onion are legendary and I know people who ask their friends to bring them some back from NI to England ...

[Atheist]

ich... Blackjacks were four a penny (that's old pennies, i.e. a farthing per blackjack). Of course you might have been around well before me, when they were a groat a baker's dozen!

[LadyCG]

I used to love Brannigans Lamb & Mint crisps and Salt & Vinegar squares as an occasional treat but I'm no crispaholic like so many people I know. 

[LadyCG]

I never liked blackjacks or liquorice 🤢

[bhg481]

Just for the record school milk came in 1/3 pint bottles.

We had a tuck van that came at morning break at secondary school. It sold  things like crisps, KitKat, Penguin bars, penny arrow toffee bars etc.

[LadyCG]

I remember those Highland Toffee bars. You may as well have taken a hammer to your teeth.

[TheWinner]

Prudie, Whiz lollies were my favourite. You can buy Tayto crisps in Tesco.

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/273999804?sc_cmp=ppc*GHS+-+Grocery+-+New*MPX_PMAX_All_OT_All+Products_Online+Budget_1009392**273999804*&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuNi8qPWKhQMVYpdoCR0uHQaUEAQYASABEgITK_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[ichkeria]

"Blackjacks were four a penny"

I remember something that was 8 for a penny (yes old pennies). Maybe that was pre-inflation (!)

[bednobs]

you had to pay for milk?

i dont thik we had a tuck shop, but there was a vending machine

[Togo]

I remember the Tuck shop at the old Grammar School and the only thing I ever bought was a penny bun(1959/60). Went straight from there to the pit canteen for a bacon butty,( man size) a mug of hot sweet tea and a Woodbine.