An amateur film by Bob Wrightson filmed over a number of years between 1966 and 1972 focusing on those who work and use a Joshua Wilson and Brothers Ltd VG Food Store in the village of Murton in County Durham. As well as the day-to-day activities, the film also records some of the changes that take place at the shop including the changing advertising signs pre and post decimalisation. The final part of the film shows the construction of a flat roof extension to the shop. The film begins with...

An amateur film by Bob Wrightson filmed over a number of years between 1966 and 1972 focusing on those who work and use a Joshua Wilson and Brothers Ltd VG Food Store in the village of Murton in County Durham. As well as the day-to-day activities, the film also records some of the changes that take place at the shop including the changing advertising signs pre and post decimalisation. The final part of the film shows the construction of a flat roof extension to the shop. The film begins with a woman coming out of a VG convenience store holding up a can of oil which she pours into the engine of a car. A ‘Christmas Greeting’ sign hangs in the window of the store with Christmas trees for sale beneath it. Outside the store five lorries deliver their goods. Two of the lorries belong to VG Food’s, while the others are for Mothers Pride, Wonderloaf and a lorry delivering fresh fruit and vegetables. A woman and small boy cross the road between the lorries as the two VG Food delivery men load empty cages back into their lorry. Another man collects a bag of onions from his lorry and takes it inside. Inside the shop a woman stands beside a fully stocked shelf selling fruit and tinned goods. General view of the ‘VG’ store sign hanging from the wall outside. Advertising posters in the shop windows say ‘Cost of Living Goes Down’ followed by a list of ‘Sunny Jim’s ‘Hot’ Specials’. Two small boys, one on a tricycle, stand outside the shop playing. A woman goes into the shop. Two dogs run off down the road. A car drives past. A parade of juvenile jazz bands march along the road past the shop. Three young girls, two in frilly bathing costumes, play around outside the shop. A woman stands in the doorway of the shop. Another woman walks past carrying a bucket. Another woman with a small girl run past on the other side of the road trying to catch up with the parade of juvenile jazz bands who have turned left at a road junction. A young woman with a small boy walk towards the shop and speaks with someone just inside the door. She turns, smiles and speaks with the person behind the camera. Outside the shop an older woman holds up a bottle with a partially melted candle in the top. A man now holds the bottle who tips it upside down with a smile. The exterior of the shop changes from the door and windows painted green and yellow to a blue door and white windows and a sign above the door that reads ‘VG Foodstore. R.M. Wrightson’. General views of people going in and coming out as well as various advertising posters in the windows promoting the latest discounts pre and post decimalisation. A man demolishes a wall beside the shop with a sledgehammer watched by a number of people. The building of an extension to the shop begins with the constructing of a concrete slat fence. Workmen build the frame of the extension in brick and breeze block. The frames for windows both back and front are installed as well as the frame for a flat roof. On the roof the men nail in roofing slats followed by two other men fitting asphalt making sure it matches with the existing roof. On the ground outside the store a man uses a sledgehammer to smash the concrete around the edge of the extension. As the man works in the background, a woman stands in the foreground smiling at the camera. A skip of construction waste is loaded onto the back of a lorry and driven away. A juvenile jazz band marches along the road outside the store away from the camera. Someone on horseback rides behind followed by the Bravo El Toro Sunderland juvenile jazz bands marching behind their banner. Two women stand outside the shop chatting and the film ends with a decorated flatbed lorry driving away.