For those of us who grew up in an era defined by simple pleasures and local High Streets, few things evoke the nostalgia of childhood quite like a paper bag filled with a colorful assortment of sweets. While we may have spent our Saturday afternoons building intricate Meccano cranes or carefully applying decals to an Airfix SR.N4 Hovercraft, the real reward was always found at the bottom of a confectionery bag. And in the world of sweets, nothing was quite as iconic or varied as licorice.
The Allsorts Adventure
The true king of the licorice world was undoubtedly the "Allsort." These weren't just sweets; they were miniature works of art that sparked the imagination.
- The Icons: Who could forget the dapper Bertie Bassett? With his top hat, walking cane, and a body made of the very sweets we loved, he was a "Magnetic Personality" in his own right, long before we discovered the charms of Wooly Willy.
- The Variety: Every bag was a treasure trove. You had the pink and blue bobbly rounds that looked like tiny planetoids from a Give-A-Show Projector slide, the striped cubes that echoed the geometric patterns of a J. Bright & Son shopfront, and the solid black batons for the true purists.
- The Texture: Part of the fun was the contrast—the soft, sugary fondant against the chewy, earthy pull of the licorice itself.
A Saturday Tradition
Buying sweets was a ritual. Perhaps you stopped by a shop on The Broadway in Broadstone or a local corner store in Old Poole after a morning spent watching the steam engines at the Poole Park Model Railway.
With your pocket money spent, you’d head home to settle in by the gas fire. While the Philips portable radio played the latest hits from Slade or The Sweet, you’d tip your bag of licorice out onto the rug. It was a time of shared joy, often competing with the savory temptation of a biscuit from the Huntley & Palmers Family Circle tin Nanny kept on the side.
More Than Just a Treat
Licorice, much like the knitted charm of The Clangers, had a way of being both quirky and comforting. It was a taste that crossed generations. Nanny in Hamworthy might have preferred a simple licorice stick, while the kids vied for the brightest, most colorful Allsorts. It was the "Parfum de Caractère" of the confectionery world—distinct, bold, and unforgettable, much like the scent of Brut aftershave on a Saturday night.
Even the most mundane tasks, like licking a 1966 Christmas stamp to send a card, felt like part of this sweet-filled world.
A Lasting Legacy
Today, we might be living in 2026, but the sight of a licorice Allsort still has the power to transport us back to the 60s and 70s. It reminds us of a time when the biggest decision of the day was which sweet to eat first and whether to share your bag while watching your favorite cartoons. Whether it's the classic black-and-white stripes or the vibrant pinks and yellows, licorice remains a colorful thread in the fabric of our memories.
No comments:
Post a Comment