C&A's final sale - more like a Dutch auction - ended last Saturday, when Clements and August Brennickmeyer Modes Ltd., the Dutch department store with branches throughout the world, closed the doors of its York branch for the last time. The company had opened the Parliament Street store on October 26, 1984, and now this branch and the many others scattered throughout the UK are to close. Thus ending their near 80-year reign on high streets from Aberdeen to York.

C&A has been with me all my life, for as a young boy I remember whenever my mother discussed buying a particular garment with her mother - who always seemed to know the right value of everything. Granny would advise: "Why don't you try the 'Coat & 'at shop' in Lewisham (our nearest branch at the time) - they'll have what you want and you won't have to pay over the odds, either." She was usually proved right.

Gran's advice stayed with me over the years, so I was well pleased when 'Coats & 'ats' opened a shop in York, and I was again able to buy good-quality clothing, for everyday use, at reasonable prices.

Since the news broke last year that C&A was closing all its UK shops, I often visited the York branch to take advantage of its generous price reductions. As the time drew near for it to close, I noticed that the stock on the shelves and rails grew smaller as the throng of eager shoppers grew larger.

I paid my final visit to the store just before it closed, and bought the last two pairs of XL boxer shorts, and the remaining XL shirt, which was a snip at £2.25. Well, I am a rather large pensioner.

Despite the fact that the shop assistants knew they would be out of a job at the week's end, they remained cheerful and helpful, and the store was 'customer friendly' until the last shopper left.

I spoke to Beverley Daniells, of Barlby, Selby, a customer adviser - charming and a credit to her employers. She was clearly upset that the store was to close, saying: "It's been wonderful working for C&A, just like being part of a large family that gets on well together."

I asked her if the staff had found alternative employment. "Yes" she replied, "about 90 per cent of the staff had found other jobs. But there'll be a lot of tears shed on Saturday, when we leave the store for the last time." I sensed her genuine sincerity and seeing that her eyes were beginning to mist over, guessed that she would be one to share the sorrow.

Beverley gave me a copy of the souvenir edition of the C&A News, which I shall keep to remind me of many years of happy shopping at "Coats and 'ats". Typical of the many complimentary letters from customers published in the paper, was one from Mrs P Cutts of London: "C&A is a national treasure - life won't be the same without your super, wonderful stores!"

So ends another chapter of retail history. Goodbye, C&A, you were a good buy! Who's next?

'NEVER volunteer for anything', was a much-used service maxim. Though you didn't always have an option. Before servicemen were paid the proper rate for the job, I was tempted to volunteer to be jabbed with "common cold germs", for a half-a-crown a day. Or go to Australia and Christmas Island to watch atomic bombs exploding, but declined the offers and, ending my reserve commitment at 60, wasn't eligible to take part in the more recent 'experiments'.

So, when I read reports of our servicemen becoming gravely ill or dying of cancer and other nasty diseases, I think myself lucky and join the voices that call for the truth and compensation for those who were used as guinea pigs, and exposed to deadly "friendly fire".