Past blackened buildings
Telling another story
But this was the swinging 70’s
Or maybe not so swinging more swingeing.
The Headrow beckoned
Debenhams, Lewis’
Schofields
Littlewoods, Stead and Simpsons
Past Dolcis, Clark’s, Dunn & Co
Tobacco shops aplenty, Capstan and Players
Leeds Permanent Building Society
Dyson’ s Furs
The David Oluwale scandal bubbling underneath
Conveniently forgotten during the 80’s and 90’s
But
Change was afoot on the Headrow
The Town Hall had stolen a march
Now cleaned and gleaming
Its sandstone splendour breathtaking
But we were heading for the Ceylon Tea Rooms
Modern
Cool
Airy
And Leeds answer to the Rococo high faluttin glory
Of County Arcade’s Lyon’s Tea Room
But before we enter the doors
What about the people?
Young, old and everything in between
Of course, ‘old’ to me then was anyone over forty!
Transcending eras rubbed along sort of
Older women in smart suits, collars lined with real fur
And of course the ubiquitous head covering,
small hat or scarf
Men too,
cloth caps or Trilbies.
Younger people, teens anyone under forty, mini- skirts
maxi skirts, floral dresses
flowing skirts
Flowed for men too
Bell bottoms prevailed accompanied by robes of one sort or
another.
Hair long sideburns architectural arrangements
big hair.
All this and more
But here we were
At The Ceylon Tea Rooms
No exclusivity here
Airy, glass emporium
Tea chests from India
Lined the walls
Some open, some shut
No deep pile carpet
Shiny floors
Bright lights
No hushed voices
Posters of tea pickers
Enjoying their work
Menus stuffed with Empire Tea
Darjeeling
Gun Smoke
Earl Grey
And to eat
Quiche, Quiche and more Quiche
Change hovered
This was the new normal
For the way we were.
Myrna Moore