Mr.
Derrick Hall, the proprietor of Randolph Backhouse, Bakery, Knottingley,
is sticking to the "same old-fashioned baking methods." The firm
is still using recipes handed down over the years. Mr. Hall, who is 45,
says that Knottingley people, especially those from the old part of the
town, still like home-baked confectionery. "They demand something of
quality rather than the cheaper stuff which is mass produced in
factories," he said.
And
Mr. Hall’s customers today have been patronising the shop and buying
home-baked foods for many years. He feels they are good judges in this
respect. From where they stand in the shop, customers can see the bread
and pastry being taken out of the oven, "Plant bakers will never beat
us," boasts Mr. Hall. He says conditions have not changed much over
the years. "The work is still very hard, even though we have the odd
machine to help. For me it is just a 12-hour day most days." Mr. Hall
also feels that the small family bakery will survive in the future. He
believes that where a grocer can be put out of business by a supermarket,
a baker cannot.
Mr.
Hall is very proud of his staff of 12. "Most of the staff have been
with us from leaving school. It is important that there is no discord
between staff. Most of our day is spent at work, so we try to make it
enjoyable." he says.
The
business was originally in Aire Street, but because of the re-development
scheme Mr. Hall transferred to Racca Green. In 1900 the shop and bakery in
Aire Street was owned by two sisters, Polly and Hanna Peckitt. An oven,
which was probably used at that time, was in the shop right up to it being
demolished last year. Mr. Randolph Backhouse started working for the
sisters as a boy in 1914. After a period in the Royal Navy in World War
One, he went back to the bakery.
In
1922 the sisters retired to Filey and Mr. Backhouse and his wife, Marion,
now a retired schoolteacher, bought the business. Mr. Hall, who was a
draughtsman, joined as a junior partner in 1951 when he was 25. He married
Mr. Backhouse’s daughter, Ursula, and in 1955 when Mr. Backhouse
retired, the couple took over the business. Despite having retired, Mr.
and Mrs Backhouse frequently visit the shop and bakery to "keep an
eye on things," and occasionally help out at busy times.
