p24,25 Jack Meets:SGBGolf_NEW_template 27/01/2009 09:25 Page 24
Jack Meets - Sports
Jack Meets . . .
Leaving his bucket and spade at home, Jack
Lynes, our man about the trade, went to the
seaside town of Littlehampton to meet TYNDALL
JONES and PAUL FROOME.
W
hat made Woolworths finally close its doors? Why are the During the 50’s, fishing tackle and bait was to become a major part of the
merchants of doom prophesying the doubling of empty shops on trade. The procurement of fishing bait was a daily task and to count up and
our High Streets and in our shopping centres? Who might survive dispose of some 2000 lugworms in a day quite normal. Tyndall is something
and who might fall victim to the economic downturn? Are we over-shopped of an enigma. He shared with me his first experience of discrimination as he
and is it time to take stock in general terms? To what extent has (and will) recalled his efforts, aged about six years, at selling a bucket and spade, and
shopping on the net influence the future of retailing? Will mouse-fall his utter disgust when the customer asked for someone more senior to serve
overtake footfall in the world of sales? And was Jack Lynes’ journey to him. After all, he explained, he really did have first hand knowledge of the
Littlehampton to be a farewell look at a traditional family business on its last product and was in fact, the expert on the scene. And although he has
legs or could its owner’s dreams as he prepares to hand over the business to virtually no interest in participating in any sporting activity, he has acquired
his ‘best ever Saturday boy’ be justified? This was to be no ordinary ‘Jack much knowledge of the products they sell. From a practical point of view,
meets…’ The story begins with some history. It continues with, Jack hopes, he reckons to have executed ten thousand restrings using his trusted
some objective thinking. Only time will tell how it may all end. You, the Etkalon machine. The other piece of equipment which continues to play a
reader, may wish to draw your own conclusions. The story three years on significant part in his life is his metal detector. His collection of treasures
may simply read “This shop was past its ‘sell-by’ date.” Or more occupy two display cabinets in his living quarters, each piece meticulously
optimistically “A new lease of life for Littlehampton’s oldest shop.” What do labelled after careful research, some several thousand years old. The pieces
you think? include pistol shot and musket balls, but were excluded from his stock-
taking, which was taking place as we talked.
Born in Swindon, in 1906, David Owen Jones was the youngest of 11
children. A highly skilled engineer, and a tennis player of some merit, he After his father’s untimely death in 1973, Tyndall and Frances took over
was 30 years of age when he married Betty Ellis who shared his passion for the shop. Sport became more prominent. Toys and beach goods were
tennis and was no mean swimmer. An independent streak in him made him dropped and in 1987 a larger shop was created to offer leather goods
yearn to be his own boss and they bought a run-down sports and toy shop alongside the sportswear and merchandise. Tyndall is a great charity box
in Maidenhead. During the war David’s engineering skills were called on, shaker, following in Frances’ footsteps who was honoured with a British
leaving Betty to look after the shop. They both performed fire-fighting Empire Medal for her outstanding charity work. Already this year he has
duties at night during the Blitz. After their first son (also called David) was reached an amazing £50,000 collected for an array of charities and collects
born, doctor’s advice led to a move to the seaside. In 1946 ‘David O. Jones locally and nationally, often dressed somewhat bizarrely to help bring in the
& Son Sports’ opened on August Bank Holiday on its present site, 9 High pennies. A strictly principled man, he has never involved the shop in any of
Street. They restored the building which had been neglected and suffered these activities, seeking no publicity for the business whatsoever. At the
war damage. Stock in trade was sports goods, toys and beach buckets and New Year’s Parade in London he was collecting on behalf of the Southwark
spades. Tyndall, son number two, was born in Littlehampton in 1949. He Goodwill Trust and has helped raise funds for Cardiomyopathy, as a result
has lived at Number nine from that day to this. Toys were replaced with of a one-time employee’s parents having the disease. Yes, he has shaken
leather ware in the early 1950’s . One Frances Harrison joined David and and continues to shake, but not jump. He plans to shake the bucket whilst
Betty. Aged 77, she ceased working full time but continued as a consultant more foolhardy ones jump off the Aron Bridge in a month or two. Looking
until she died, aged 93. around his upstairs room, a side table is adorned with medals, pictures and
24 SGBSPORT JANUARY 2009
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