Markets

Preston Open Market

Markets have got a bad name in recent years as bankers, insurance companies and financial advisers have  sliced large fees from their customers who were encouraged through various wheezes to be unwitting investors in financial markets. Ordinary folk have had their savings, pensions, hopes and aspirations downsized or in some instances wiped out as our much vaunted financial sector has creamed them off. These are not real markets, they are monopolised by voracious finance companies eager to entice their clients to invest by tantalising them with false promises.

Real markets are where producers cut out or minimise the role of the middle man and brokers. They provide fresh, local, recycled and authentic products at best price direct to the buyer. Markets are places where households can eke out their income to buy healthy, cheap produce to improve their wellbeing. In many parts of the north of England, market towns and in trendy London suburbs real markets are still thriving and provide a much needed bulwark against the tedious uniform shopping malls and chain retail outlets

As a youngster most of our food was secured at the market on Friday when I helped mum carry home hefty shopping bags of tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions, lettuce, celery, greens, apples, raspberries, oranges, eggs, sausages and local cheese purchased to provide our weekly intake of fruit, veg and protein. It was local good quality produce and quite a bit cheaper than in the shops.  On other days there would be clothes, local crafts, tools, drapery and a fish market. Later on in life I frequented markets to buy tools, records and car parts. I also bought several axes for chopping logs and the broken heads still clutter the garage as I was reminded when I was sent a link to a quite surreal short film Markets of Britain. I wonder whether Lee Titt was ever employed in the Financial sector as a trainer?  His take on markets "people come from all over to buy, to sell, to steal" and "man's not looking, I'll have these, keep walking, keep walking..." is very familiar!