Possible Clues:

• In the very old days
• Way back in time
• Once upon a time
• In days of yore
• Before any of us can remember, perhaps
• Silvers, last seen in Bilko around the 1950s (latterly), brings years back
• "It used to be that ... "
• A long time past
• A long time since Agnes lost heart with an attempt
• In the far past