Guru Boutique: Alternative/Ethnic/music loving shop - established in 1972...for those with imagination

We hope we're doing a good job of offering exciting products to our customers and trying to avoid complacency and smugness in all things!!!

Contents: If you fancy finding out how we tick, just scroll down for insights into the world of Guru.

(Last updated on Monday 7th., December 2009).

1. A brief history.
2. Location and flux.
3. Summary.
4. The Guru phenomenon.
5. Contact details.
6. Just for fun: 'The Legend of Gurutribe'.
7. Just for fun: 'Adventures in Guru land", anecdotes of amusing or unusual happenings in Guru which we update frequently. Some are funny,
some just plain wacky and ALL are totally real. Check 'em out as they may make you chuckle...

1. A brief history - Guru was started in March 1972 in Court Arcade, Darlington, by a mother Helen Irene (Maughan) who passed away in 2005, and her daughter Beryl (Hankin). Shortly after that they were joined by Tony (Smith), and in 1990 (when the shop moved to 24 Blackwellgate) by Colin (Harrison). We have had some brilliant people working with us and helping us in many other ways over the years, including five sets of siblings. Most people who have worked for the shop have remained in close contact with us, which is very good. Our present staff consists of Beryl, Tony, Colin, Kelly and our latest set of sisters working as Saturday girls Kamay and Kayeung (Li). Guru is much more than a shop; as for us it is a way of life, a place for people who have imagination to work in, shop at and visit. It’s been “a long strange trip” to use a quote from Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead, but one that we would not have wanted to miss for the world and an achievement of which we are very proud. Guru is not a typical business as we are not simply interested in profit, but also in what is going on in the world, our environment and in the lives of all the people who have happened to walk through our door over all these years. We are looking forward to reaching our fourth decade as 'the Guru family' (and a family we are even 'though those of us who work in the shop are not related). Apart from our 'core family' we also have an extended version known to us as 'Gurutribe' (more about 'the tribe' and it's members in it's own section below).
In spite of the stresses inevitably encountered when trying to achieve something significant, we relish the challenges involved in providing a unique, fair and friendly service to our customers whom we regard not merely as consumers but as respected individuals, and in some cases real friends.

2. Physical location and flux - Whilst Guru remains trading here on the internet, and also has a physical presence in Darlington (in our two hundred year old premises with it's little carved faces on the upper windows), we feel that at least part of the spirit of this original Victorian market town remains. This tiny premises has a rich history, having been I believe at one time in the distant past when it was adjacent to a tavern, a house of ill repute, then offices, fishmongers shop and clothing shop in turns, and now our boutique. It stands as a testimony to more a more innocent time when people and places all seemed that much more geniune. A time before 2005 which was the year the hoardings went up so that beind them the graceful vista of the town centre including our old High Row (which was in the opinion of many true Darlophiles the perfect setting for our central historic buildings), could be bulldozed away and replaced by what we see as a botched up, mismatched slab of shopping precinct!!! We felt so strongly about this we published a book entitled 'That Darlington Way: the spirit of old High Row' which retails at £12.99 and is available from Guru Publishing on this site, or from our shop. It is also on sale in Waterstones (Darlington), on eBay and Amazon or to order from bookshops everywhere. The book compiles some people's feelings in images, poetry and prose in an attempt to preserve the essence of an iconic street pattern now gone. It also makes a gentle protest about the way that due to lack of vision from those who control town planning (in our opinion), some towns seem to be becoming clones of one another due to what we regard as a shortsighted acceptance of transient fashions in townscapes, rather than ensuring they remain individual and probably more useful, inspiring and attractive both socially and commercially to all. We are fortunate here that we still do of course have many aspects of our town which we can be proud of and love. This is a really convenient, compact, well situated town with great road and rail links and some nice buildings which escaped demolition in the last blinkered purge during the sixties. Darlington (or Darlo to many of it's afficionados) can boast a proud history of engineering, railways, markets and mills, and has excellent facilities, exceptional small businesses plus most of the big name shops too, good hotels and venues, festivals and events, a wonderful town clock, and best of all some great people live and work here. Darlington is well worth a visit for those things alone, and it is of course also the 'home' of Guru.

3. Summary - Some people having read to this point may not care one way or the other and just want to shop, others will agree and identify with what is written here, another percentage might disagree and think uniform high streets are the way forward. Whatever your views are everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Even though we strongly believe that the cloning of towns in the UK is not a good thing for the historic, social, emotional and economic wellbeing of the country as a whole, we also acknowledge it is not a life threatening or unlawful issue. In fact it is almost trivial when compared with those terrible things some people have to suffer in the many places around the world where wars and high levels of injustice and corruption rage. We are grateful for our lifestyles and liberties here, but we also know from our own responses that it is still very upsetting and diminishing to people with deep roots in an area, or pride in the sheer quirkiness of British towns, when meaningful physical features and street patterns are deliberately removed from hometowns. All this can probably apply to towns in other countries too as such changes as we have experienced are happening more and more right around the globe. Change can be necessary, even desirable if done in a carefully considered way and for the correct reasons, but I'm afraid that is not always the case.

4. The Guru phenomenon - has a life of it's own and is bigger than the individuals who keep it going. It is not just the fact that we have created a business which has somehow managed to endure and evolve against all odds that makes it all seem worthwhile. It is also many associated things...and the way in which (in spite of the sheer leaps of faith verging on madness and the effort sometimes involved) everything in this often out of control jigsaw fits together so naturally. Therefore ultimately through bad times and good and even 'though we are too flamboyant, too romantic, too emotional, too honest and just far too soft ever to be very financially rich, we consider ourselves rather lucky.

5. Contact - You can reach us via the outlook express contact link on this website, or on Myspace, Facebook or Twitter (see our homepage for links).
or drop us a line to 24 Blackwellgatet, Darlington, DL1 5HG,
telephone us on 01325 461479,
If you don't use outlook express simply email us at beryl@guruboutique.co.uk
- or better still call into the shop in person if you are ever in Darlington...

6. What follows is just for fun - 'THE LEGEND OF GURU TRIBE'.

MANY, MANY MOONS AGO, BACK IN THE TIME OF ALL THINGS 70'S A SMALL SHOP WAS BORN IN ORDER TO BRING TO THE PEOPLE OF DARLINGTON AND THE WORLD, AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE UNEXCITING AND PREDICTABLE!

THE NAME OF THIS SHOP WAS GURU, AND THUS THE LEGEND BEGAN...(cue Native American tribal drums).

IT WAS 1972 WHEN IRENE AND BERYL SET OUT ON THEIR ADVENTURE INTO THE UNKNOWN, AND TO HELP THEM THEY SEARCHED THE WORLD, WELL MOSTLY DARLINGTON, TO FIND TRUSTY COMRADES TO AID AND ABET THEM. HERE BELOW IS A LIST OF THOSE FIRST BRAVE GURU'S AND SOME WHO HAVE SWELLED THE RANKS MORE RECENTLY...

THIS LIST OF DEVOTED AND REVERED TRIBE MEMBERS SHOWS BOTH THEIR GIVEN AND TRIBAL NAMES AND THE STORIES BEHIND THOSE NAMES AND WHY THEY DESERVE THEM, SO READ ON AND ALL WILL BE REVEALED!

OUR BELOVED CHIEF(ESS)!
(Irene Maughan). Wise owl (aka Soothing Water) - so named because she was not only the head of the tribe, a wonderful, irreplaceable and much missed lady (and Beryl's mam), but also the most placid, caring and level headed one of us all, who in times of crisis knew just how to calm us all down...usually not only with common sense actions and words of wisdom but also with a soothing cup of her lovely tea!
THE TRIBE!
(Beryl). (She who) Stands by Till - so named because since 1972 for all those long and eventful years, day in day out, she has been there, like a constant and comforting certainty, standing near the till in Guru for all to return to and talk with and see!
(Tony). (He who) Runs Upstairs - so named for his dogged perseverance, in spite of poorly legs, to go up and down the three flights of stairs to the Guru stockrooms in order to locate and capture any item of stock that the customers of Guru desire!
(Colin). Fogmaker - so named because when he had to operate the dry ice machine at a fashion show we once did, he was so interested in the beautiful squaws on the stage that he forgot to turn off the machine, and the models were soon walking waist deep in dry ice, which was ok as it gave an air of mystery and intrigue to the whole affair!
(Bridie). Running Girl - so called because she is compact, neat and fleet of foot, and can do everything very quickly, even running, (or so she tells us). Many years ago she and Irene (aka Mammy 'Wooden Top'), would often enter the teepee called 'The Golden Egg' in search of nourishment! (Patrick Miller). Paddy(many voices) - so called because even in those distant days way back when he was our first Saturday boy, he had a talent to entertain, and now is a working actor on stage and television (Mark). Friend to many! (Nick). Biker Brave! (Phil). Brave Adventurer. (Sadly missed)! (Sandra). Caring Squaw! (Linda). Horse whisperer (Stuart). Runs with pack! (Gary). Music Guide! (Tracy). Life guide! (Caroline). Rainbow Child - so named because long before brightly coloured hair was in vogue, she wore all colours of the rainbow in her hair and on her clothes, and was never without her purple and black hoopy tights! (Julie). Broken Hanger - so named because although slight of frame and delicate of hand, she still had great strength, and showed this by snapping many coat hangers with her bare hands! (Rosalie). Dream Catcher - so named because she is the possessor of a darkly beautiful romantic nature and dreams the wonderful dreams of the fledgling shamen! (Sarah Stabler). Little Beaver - don't even ask! (Krissy). Swift Messenger - so named because she was always back from any errand she went on in double swift time! (Karen Wigglesworth). Pathfinder - so named for her ability to save Tony's poorly legs by swiftly beating a path up the stairs to hunt for stock, which she was able to do due to her training as a real mountineer. Karen was our longest serving Saturday girl, staying over seven years, throughout her University years and beyond! (Christina Bray). Princess Chrissie laughs a lot - so called because her beauty and laughter has cheered us on many a difficult day in Guru! (Georgina Bray). Princess Georgi jumps a lot - so called because she also cheered us up, and would get VERY excited at all manner of things (including sweet soul music, Saturday Night Fever and Robbie Williams), and jump about a lot! (Uppinder Purewal). Pinny of the smiling eyes - so called because she has the loveliest and friendliest brown eyes you could ever wish to see! (Kelly). Little Sky - so called because even 'tho she's not that tall, and has to look up a lot, as if into the sky, she is a key member of this tribe, and she is sky high in our estimation, and words can't describe how much Guru owes to Kelly! (Caitlin). Little Many Treasures - so called because she has great taste in music, fashion and just about everything stylish and collects these things for her teepee! (Angelica). Fire Water Girl - so called because although she could drink any of us under the table, I have never seen her badly drunk and she is the loveliest and most fun person you could hope to have at any party! (Toyah). Little Treasure - so called because she stepped in just when we needed her, and then worked at Guru for six and a half years and kept us right for all that time. She subsequently trained to work as a medicine woman! (Sarah). Little Star - so called because she too keeps us right and has taken over the mantle from Irene of producing the soothing tea, at just the right moment. She is our philosopher! (Ebi) Princess Graceful Gazelle - so called because she has the grace and long limbs reminiscent of the animal she's named after, and last time we heard from her she was working in London for Paul Smith as a fashion model (Jean Harrison). Law Maker - so called because she could really lay down the law and keep unruly youngsters and just about anyone else, in check! (Libby). Walks in Moccassans - so called because she is so into Native American culture and looks good in the shoes! (Kamay Li (Kay)). Music Girl - so called for being very accomplished, very kind, very pretty and just ace at so many things - and also for bringing gifts of yummy edible things such as sweets and sometimes home made muffins! (Kayeung (Li)). Watchful One - so called because she quietly observes what is going on and is very nice, very beautiful and very helpful - plus she can make cups of tea second to none! (Steph). Fair beauty - so called for thinking deeply and caring a lot about many things! (Peter). Adventurer bold - so called 'cos he leaves his comfort zone on many occasions in order to reach new horizons! (Amy) Arrow and Fire! (Claire). Gentle song! (Rupert). Brown eyed watcher! A man who was extremely handsome and charming but sometimes troubled, who also was my dad. (Ray). (He who) Shouts a lot, but gets things done - so called because when the tribe migrated from Court Arcade to 24, Blackwellgate he had the really hard and vital work of organising the premises for the tribe to inhabit! Joe (of the Watson's). - so called 'cos we thank him too, as he was crucial in doing the building involved in the big move! Jiti (of the Varma's). - so called for being a long time friend and supplier of garments for the benefit of the tribe! (Mel). Big chief sort'em'books - so called because every year he performs the miracle of sorting out our perfectly legal, but hopelessly confusing paperwork! (Geoff) - Laughing music - so called for loving interesting obscure music and comedy! (Lesley) - True friend - so called for understanding and creating a good vibe! (Humphrey). The God Father - so called for being a great character and much loved man and a true brother to Irene and uncle to Beryl! (The whole Dobson family) Romantic ones - so called for possessing so much flair, originality and both technological ability and pre-Raphaelite charm all in one family! (The whole Bray family). Beautiful ones - so called for being most attractive, kind, wise and pleasant people! (Rachel). She warrior of great courage and tact! (Mayumi). Bright hope for the future! (Darren aka Daz). Designer brave! (Norman (Beaker)). Nozunited brave who makes music medicine to cheer tribe up! (Wendy) Mystic Wend. (Tim). Mighty warrior with powerful tribal tattoo on back! (Wade). Tribal artist from far away! (Zoe). Princess Zoe little chef! (Lucky). Great Hunter of Squirrels! (Bandit). Little Chief Pongs a lot! (Harley). Running Wolf! Vanessa (Nessie) Hanton (nee Garry), who taught me all I know about going to gigs and making it rock, the Garry family, Gary Hall (poet, writer, musician, financial wizard and friend, Ros who we are glad we met through Gary, that great entertainer Mike Sanchez, Mark Morgan, Oliver Darling, Iren, Imelda May (who's evocative voice, flawless looks and great personality all add up to sheer star quality), Al Gare, Darrel Higham, Dave Priseman, Steve Rushton (the last five people now form the fabulous Imelda May Band), Ian Siegal (who will always be known to us as 'the dark lord'), bassist Andy Graham, drummer Nikolaj Bjerre (the last three people make up the incomparable Ian Siegal Band), Ange, Steve, Jilly, Gudrun, Steve (aka the great Shanghai Fred), Meryce (aka 'lil Shanghai), Julie, Alan, Alana, Steve, Denise, Emma and all our great mates at Steven Hall hairdressing, Gary, Brenda and the whole of the Johnston family, Ivan Kennedy, Pam and their lovely children, all the guys in the Norman Beaker band (Noz himself who has been mentioned already, John, Dave and Steve) for always making it a great night of music and fun when they play, Herbie Goins for being a lovely man and having a great voice and bags of style, Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby who played for us so well at Guru's 30th birthday party, Steve and Jan and their wonderful family, who have been part of our lives for so very long, David Green, Nellie and Davey Graham, three people we sadly miss, the late and great George Harrison (Col's dad, not the famous Beatle), the late and lovely Flo Smith, John and Kath Bulloch and family, Colin Moss-Henry and his family, the Farrants, the Wigglesworth's, the wonderful Karl Harvey, Kath, Terrence, Hope, Ray Starr, the Miller family, Tracy, Tracey, Brenda W, Leanne, Caroline and family, John, all at J P Walters, Bob, Barry, Alan J, Alan S, Paula, Heather, Mally, Heather's mam and family, Jimmy, Anton, Lisa, Rebecca, Jaqui, Jo-anne, Jungle, Haggis, Dav and all our biker friends, the whole Harrison family (a tribe on their own), Charles and the Miller lads and their families, Paul, Andy our official tribal drummer, Karen (Who was born the year Guru opened), David and Suzanne, Robin, Sandy, Colin and all at Finnegans, Peter, Chris and all at The Blue Lagoon restaurant (mmmmm moussaka) , Dennis and all at Ochis Caribbean restaurant (mmmmm Jerk Chicken), Terry and Alan, Richard Green, Dave, Mort, Mr Arthur Hughes (an inspirational gentleman), Ian and Linda Hughes (Art Shop), Stuart and all at S D Print, Lauren Pyrah, Richard the proprietor of Gallerina, Gwen, Helen, Bizz et al, Chris Lloyd, Mr and Mrs Owen and members of Darlington's Civic Trust, Allene Norris, Peter Warrand (Dressers) and indeed ALL the people who helped and contributed to 'That Darlington Way' (our book) and SO many more not yet mentioned here...and at some point in the tribe's expansion onto the world wide web, they will be both acknowledged and thanked for being part of Gurutribe. This is no bad thing as it means there are still more people to meet, and still many more stories yet to unfold...

...AND NOW IT HAS COME TO PASS THAT THE TRIBE HAS MIGRATED ONTO THE INTERNET AND TO FIND OUT THE NAMES OF THE NEW MEMBERS OF GURUTRIBE YOU MUST CONTINUE YOUR QUEST BY CHECKING INTO THIS SITE FROM TIME TO TIME, IN ORDER TO WATCH AND PARTAKE AS THE BRAVE ADVENTURE CONTINUES...


7. Adventures in Guru land! The first batch of semi-surreal snippets below cover the time up to December 2009 - after them are the most recent anecdotes in date order....

Lad mumbled proudly into his mobile as he passed our counter "I made love last night". He had his mum in tow - oh no!
"..and I made cheese on toast" said Guru's Tony once the lad was out of earshot - that made the customers who had heard both remarks laugh!
Man came into Guru "know you, you're Beverley Hankey". No said Beryl Hankin I'm not. Oh yes you are he insisted and walked out... Strange!
An old lady enquired "do you sell flannelette bloomers?". She turns up every December and asks us the same question - we don't of course!!!
Asked what three Feng Shui Chinese coins tied with red ribbon meant, my mam said "oh it's Sinn Fein, and you keep the toilet seat down too"!
Lady said to our assistant "can you see anything in this crystal ball?". Our girl said "Oh yes, I can see your shopping, it's at your feet"!
A rumour was going round that we bought people's long finger nail cuttings to make spells from, we had to tell lots of people we did NOT!
Beryl, feeling happy served a gentleman today and chirpily told him "hey, you spent £20", he said "you make it sound like I won a prize"!
Customer with seven spirit guides kindly came to help when our car got stuck in snow. Col said "we're ok now, there's eight of 'em pushing!
A lady came in and said "I'm a clairvoyant, do you sell crystal balls?" - I said "don't you know then?" - I rest my case!!!
We put a joke notice in the window; 'Customers required, no experience necessary, apply within', about forty people seriously applied...
I overheard a young man say "I'm not a big fan of Christmas, much prefer hello-een, when you get to say hello to all your mates"!
Teenage boy in low slung jeans swaggered in flashing his boxers at all and sundry, belt must have been too loose, pants fell off...not cool!
Customer looked through the poster browsers and studied each one carefully, then turned to Col and asked "do you sell posters?" - strange!!!
"these are all Christmas presents to myself" smiled the customer "can you remove the price tags so I don't know how much I spent on me?"
Girl said "do you have incest sticks in here?", without raising an eyebrow Tony replied "yes pet incense sticks are on that stand there!"
Round, squat lady about 4ft short asked us "can you make me look like Morticia Addams, I'm going to a fancy dress on New Year's Eve?" Mmm...
We drop our hairless headed colleague Tony outside a house every night. Couple living there always wave and say "look Uncle Fester's home"!
Years ago a lad came into Guru asking for 'poppers'. I innocently produced some party poppers. He sneered "not those kind love"... Duh!!!
There's a thing called 'shop law' in Guru; if only one person is in the shop, you bet they'll be standing exactly where you need to work...
Hope you're chuckling at our tweets about things that could only happen in Guru? We left the ruder examples out but they're funny too...
Those mainly daft things you just read about happened in 2009 and before...
Here's to all those wacky happenings yet to come in 2010...

04/01/10: It was snowing heavens high and bitterly cold. "How are you today?" we asked the cheery postie who brings Guru's mail. "COOL", he said!
04/01/10: 80 year old John (the white witch) called into Guru this morning. Our cheery postman pointed at him in recognition and said "SEASICK STEVE"!
05/01/10: Two girls came in laughing. Seems in the street outside they had just been asked to wee into a cup in exchange for a £5 Starbucks voucher. It wasn't a pervert, just a person conducting a survey on chlamydia, but how random was that? Not every day you get asked to provide wee!
06/01/10: Tony saw a girl on her mobile on all 3 floors in the store next to us. She bought nothing then came into Guru and did the same... Shop talk?
07/01/10: We were telling a friend who called in this morning about the time a few years back when a brilliant surreal if young man visited Guru wearing a disguise of a floppy hat, false moustache and underpants over his jeans. We took his photo of course...and we still don't know what he really looks like to this day!
08/01/10: Customers often ask for incest sticks instead of incense sticks, or joy sticks instead of joss sticks - no matter we know what they mean!!!
09/01/10: Due to the heavy snow today we stayed cosy in Guru and reminisced about extreme weather we had experienced whilst in the shop... when our old Court Arcade shop flooded during a thunderstorm, Tony went up on the high roof and narrowly escaped being struck by lightning! The flooding in the shop back then was so bad the newspapers we covered the floor with to soak the water up turned into pulp...
11/01/10: When Beryl's mam (Irene aka Mrs Guru) worked in Guru it was sometimes a tight squeeze behind the counter, as in those days Irene was well upholstered, so we used to call her "Betty biggi-bottie"!!!
A man with a metal rod in his leg used to come into Guru, and when he was talking to us would shake his leg - we nicknamed him shake-a-leg! Shake-a-leg was in Guru being very annoying so the punks filled his hat with sugar - you can imagine what happened when he put it back on!
Customers often ask for incest sticks instead of incense sticks, or joy sticks instead of joss sticks - no matter we know what they mean!!!
05/02/10: Man in Guru today turned to his wife and said "darling, I'm of the view that time spent shoppin is NOT quality time" - how poncey was that?