In the 1970's my Auntie Jessie lived in Clapton and it was a two bus trip to get there from Loughton. We changed buses at Bakers Arms and on the return journey our bus stop was opposite a shop called Doreen. I remember waiting for the 20 in a shoe shop doorway and gazing across at Doreen, it was special because it's my mum's name and we though that was the bees knees! Its getting on for 40 years since I made this journey and Doreen has remained a landmark over the decades and I've marvelled that it was still going strong. Its displays and shop front were dated and I wondered about the clientele, today I googled and discovered it was one of the first shops to cater for transvestites and is famous.
Sadly, after 60 years the shop has recently closed, I saw cardboard boxes in the empty windows when I passed on the bus this week and went back today to photograph the shop front before it is dismantled. My mum will be 80 in a few months, we made these journeys when she was in her 40's, as I am now. I can't wait to tell her about the shop. So goodbye Doreen, you have been a constant since my childhood and I'm so sad to see you go.
