“I was told first of this unusual lady when I walked through Cwmdu at Easter 1948. As we passed the establishment Gwen told me it was run by 'Annie Rinn'. I'd met with other change names by then and though I puzzled over it in my mind I never queried it. You can get anything there Gwen told me from 'Tintacks to Tractors'. I was most impressed especially with the tractors.

At a later date I remember going into the shop and meeting Annie and also into the parlour to share a drink.

My sister in law agreed the 'tintacks and tractors' saying was very common but not entirely without basis. When it was so difficult to shop freely, during the war, you could well rely on Annie finding what you wanted. Sugar was closely rationed but somehow Annie would have some off ration, a question which perhaps shouldn't have been posed too closely. After all in a farming community, even with the controls on your produce, a few eggs and the odd half pound of butter or a small parcel of pork might not be noticed and would be exchanged for sugar or dried fruit and so on.