Now for another unexpected gem from files of the late Glyn Rees. It is a copy of an item from Rhyl Leader newspaper dated 18th March 1961:
This serves as a reminder of how many trade organisations and public competitions there used to be. It was an event by Rhyl And District Branch of The National Hairdressers' Federation at Rhyl Town Hall. It was for apprentices; there were 19 of 'em including one boy.
Pictured above are the winners. Standing far left is third-prize winner Pauline Roberts of Bodelwyddan, an apprentice at Reginald's, Rhyl. Sitting in front of Pauline is her model Mrs. Mavis Griffiths.
Standing in the middle holding her cup is first-prize winner Susan Muff who lived with her grandma in Westfield Road, Rhyl. Susan was aged only 15, an apprentice at The Powder Box, Rhyl. Sitting in front is her model Mrs. Audrey Anzinger.
Standing far right is third-prize winner Angela Libby of Lynwood Drive, Rhyl, with her model Mrs. Barbara Williams. Angela was also an apprentice at The Powder Box, Rhyl, which was above Martins Bank on corner of High Street and Glanglasfor (now Santander).
The Powder Box was a well-established business. It had previously been located elsewhere in High Street since the 1930s, and traded as Frances of Kinmel Street before that.
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Jill Williams says:
"I started going to the Powder Box in the 1950s. The entrance in those days was in Glanglasfor and then up steps to the second floor. The lady who ran it at that time was called Miss Olive Rigby.
"When she retired I think it was taken over by Thelma Gwilliam and it moved to Kinmel Street next to the Journal Office.
"When Thelma left it moved to the corner of Elwy Street and was run by Paula and Lynda (can't remember their surnames). Eventually it ceased to exist several years ago."
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Jill adds:“I can remember a few more hairdressers of yesteryear, There was a Mr. Mitchell and Miss Howell who ran a salon down under the bridge past the Odeon Cinema (now Apollo Bingo). There was one in Wellington Road run by Miss Dorothy Coombes, and one in Market Street run by Mr. Jackson.”
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The Rhyl hairdresser most often mentioned with praise is Malcolm Connop whose studio was at 51 Water Street. His fans include blog readers Dilys Bagnall, Dorothy Jones, Gaynor Williams and Liz Espley.
Malcolm passed away in 2011. Click on the following link to read tributes:http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/105611/tributes-paid-to-rhyl-hairdresser.aspx
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SAT 6th FEB 2016 UPDATE: This advert for The Powder Box is thought to be c.1920 but is more likely to be 1930s if the slogan 'Keep Young & Beautiful' refers to song of that name which appeared in the Hollywood film 'Roman Scandals' starring Eddie Cantor and Ruth Etting (1933):
6720. Additional image added here in June 2020:
Angela Libby, pictured above as a prize-winning hairdresser in 1961, is pictured below as Rhyl Rose Queen in 1955.
In Rose Queen Angela's court, presumably left to right: Michele de Barletta, Doreen Harding, Irene Palmer, Yvonne Rich, Susan Williams, Douglas Hughes, Jean Owen, Gail Churm.
Mentioned: Mrs E. Frimston, Mrs E. Bosworth, Mrs G. Evans of Grange Avenue, F.A. Bottom of Rhyl Publicity Association at Town Hall.
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