Gayla House is celebrating its 55th anniversary. In a town where there appears to be constant changes in the number and type of shops, reaching 55 years is something of an accomplishment. You often see the proprietrix there, the wife of the late Elwyn Edwards.
I shan't mention who in our family but exactly 30 years ago one of us went into Gayla House for the first time, as a young woman. She was immediately dismissed with a pompous 'We've got nothing for you here' and all these years later has never, ever again set foot within. Had they been welcoming, who knows how much we'd've spent there over the years.
Back then, Gayla House was not alone in this sort of attitude but things have long since improved. Possibly so in Gayla House, though we'd never know because we've not been back in.
55 years ago and the UK recorded its highest ever rainfall in a single day (August 8th). Contrast that with this summer's drought. The late summer bank holiday Monday (today) was introduced. Colour TV started (though was not available in Wales). The Jungle Book was released at cinemas. Radios 1 to 4 were born, replacing the Light & Third Programmes and the Home Service (including the opt-out services Radio 4 Wales and previously the Welsh Home Service).
What About Other Ladies' Fashion Shops?
All of Gayla House's contemporaries have gone. In their place is the relatively new Choo Choo, St Peter's Square, seemingly selling over-priced end of season or end of line outlet clothes, though neither marketed nor priced as such. The leather shop on Clwyd Street has a small selection of clothes. Bijou, also Clwyd Street, now takes in some new stock alongside his second hand range. And, next to Choo Choo, there's a new shop that buys in stock from businesses closing down. Only Gayla House has a large stock of new originals to buy.