There’s a specific kind of nostalgia that comes from remembering the brands that once wallpapered our lives but have since vanished into the mist, much like a London fog or the steam from a Swanage Railway engine. In the 1960s and 70s, before we were staring at ACT Apricot screens, our world was colored by the bold logos of John Player No. 6, the fizz of Top Deck, and the ubiquitous call of Double Diamond.
The Blue and White Sentinel: Player’s No. 6
For many, the scent of the 70s wasn’t just Brut aftershave; it was the toasted tobacco of a John Player No. 6. You’d see those bright blue and white packets everywhere—on the bar at the King Charles, tucked next to a box of Swan Vesta matches, or being sold from the counter of a corner shop in Old Poole.
They were the currency of the era, often accompanied by "gift coupons" that were collected with the same religious fervor as Green Shield Stamps. You could save them up for everything from a new toaster to a Meccano set, turning a daily habit into a household "project".
The Taste of Freedom: Top Deck Shandy
Before we were old enough for the pub, we had Top Deck. These colorful cans were the "Gold Medallists" of the school holiday picnic. Whether it was Limeade & Lager or the classic Shandy, Top Deck felt like a sophisticated step up from a glass of Ribena or a bottle of dandelion and burdock.
Cracking open a can while watching the Poole Park Model Railway or sitting on the rug at 11 Hillbourne Rd was a true Saturday treat. It was the perfect partner for a plate of yummy wafers or a few licorice Allsorts while we waited for Leslie Crowther to start Crackerjack!.
"Works Wonders": The Double Diamond Era
"A Double Diamond works wonders, so drink one today!" That jingle was as inescapable as the Basil Brush laugh or a Cliff Richard ballad on the Philips radio. In the 70s, Double Diamond was the undisputed king of the keg bitters.
It was the beer of the ITV Results service, the drink of choice while Fred Dinenage read out the scores and we adjusted our cardboard league tables. It belonged to a world of old money and red telephone kiosks, a time when the "Magic Wand" of the weekend was simply a cold pint and a good laugh with mates.
A Landscape of Memories
Today, in 2026, these brands are mostly found in vintage shops or on the pages of a Ladybird Book about "The High Street". They’ve been replaced by global names and digital labels, but they remain etched in our minds like the arithmetic tables we practiced by the gas fire.
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