Sydney Colley

From being a young boy, Sydney sold newspapers in Sheffield town centre and in September 1936 he made the final payment of £2 on his own newsagents shop, at 30/32 Sutherland Street, (nr Norfolk Bridge, Sheffield), bought for £30.

Final Receipt for shop dated Sept 1936 

Business card   

By 1936, Syds’ younger brother, Harry, was also running a newsagents business at 68 Gregory Road, Sheffield. By 1959 he had two, the other being at 61/65 Albert Road. In the early 1970's Gregory Road was bought by compulsory purchase and demolished so he was back to running just the one, in Albert Road. (This was later taken over by his daughter Irene and her husband Harry Wood). This shop was also bought by compulsory purchase in 1984.

Harry Colley

Percy, the middle brother, later joined them in the family venture by working for Syd, in Fitzalan Square. The story goes that in his youth, Percy had been the victim of a knife attack which had left him deaf and dumb but this might not be the case.

Percy Colley

Apparently their mother Edith also sold papers on Commercial Street. It would seem this was a true family venture.

While Violet and daughter Irene, ran the daily business of the newsagents, Syd continued working as an independent newsvendor in Sheffield town centre.

His ‘patch’ was based around Fitzalan Square, Flat Street and outside the Old Yorkshire Bank at the top of Commercial Street / Haymarket.

Syd selling newspapers on Fitzalan Square - bottom left of picture

In the 1970’s, he would return to Sutherland Street, to sell papers just a few feet away from the site of his former shop. (See Disaster Strikes). Even with no premises he still managed to cater for the  'regular' customers of the nearby Spear & Jackson's factory. 

During my early teens, I spent many an afternoon helping him, either selling papers or fetching more from the Star offices.

He continued to work, through all weathers, even though nearly blind, well into his late seventies, until ill health finally forced him to stop.