John Tomey, 73, of Nightingale Road, was a self-employed employed gardener from 1964, and he has only now got round to sorting out the various invoices he has collected over the years.

"I kept everything," he said. "I retired in 1999 but I'm still chucking everything out. I have got hundred weights of the stuff.

He added: "All these businesses on the invoices were real people, they were not big congolmerates, they were family businesses which ceased to exist- when the owner died, or it was bought up or when it went down the drain."

Amongst the many businesses listed on the invoices is the E J Plested garage in Stoke Mandeville, which in 1964 was selling a gallon of fuel for four shillings and five pence.

Around the same time a de-icer from Edward Carter Ltd in Parton Road cost just four shillings, whilst a spade cost £1, 5 shillings.
And an Olympia standard typewriter from R May and Son, in Walton Terrace, retailed for £12.50p in the early 1970s.