NEN Gallery

Mr. Lack's Sweet Shop was at 1, St. Andrew's Street, Mildenhall, Suffolk.

This shop was originally owner by Mr. Fuller Bangs whose grave can be seen in the Churchyard.

Mr. Lack and his wife Doris took over this shop and turned it into a sweet and tobacconist shop. He was a Sunday School teacher and member of St. Mary's Church Choir for many years. He was a much respected member of the community and an official of Mildenhall Cricket Club. He was renowned for his smart appearance on a Sunday and his gold chain and watch hanging from his pocket. He was the only shop keeper who sold homemade ice cream in Mildenhall and had a sign outside his shop saying "Lick Lack's Ices"!

Mr. Jack Rolfe from Beck Row also sold home made ice cream from his pony and cart - the ice cream was put in ice to keep it cool. Mr. Claxton, from Thetford, sold ice cream from a market stall in Mildenhall on a Friday. When Mr. Lack died, Mrs. Lack ran the sweet shop and was often seen pushing a pram with her little dog in it because it was too old to walk by itself!

There is a glass ice cream cone in Mildenhall Museum given by Mrs. Lack. Mrs. Margaret Palmer remembers Mr. Lack asking the children to bring their own spoons (to eat the jelly and ice cream and a mug for a drink, both of which had to be labelled) to Sunday School parties!

Mr. and Mrs. Lack lived next door to the shop at No. 2, St. Andrew's Street. This house later became a finance shop and was the scene of a murder in the 1980s.

Further resource information, contact Mildenhall and District Museum (01638) 716970