OF ALL the late, great Glasgow department stores, R W Forsyth’s on the corner of Gordon Street and Renfield Street was a real “eye-opener” according to a man who worked there.
“Have you ever watched old episodes of the 70s sitcom Are You Being Served?” laughs Stuart Abernethy, who worked in the store’s hair salon 60 years ago.
“That was Forsyth’s in a nutshell.”
Our recent article in the Glasgow Times about Forsyth’s prompted Stuart and many other readers to get in touch with their fond memories of the place.
“I worked for Baxter Sturrock in the hair salon at Forsyth’s from 1962 until 1969, when I moved to Bermuda, and then I came back after a year to manage it for a while,” explains Stuart.
“The store was absolutely ‘out of the ark’ but I have so many fond memories of working there. I still have a suit which was made for me in Forsyth’s tailoring department.”
He adds, smiling: “I felt, working in Forsyth's, that I just had to have a quality suit. I had two fittings, and finally received the finished article, a quality of garment not seen today.
“I can still ‘ease’ myself into it, which is something of a feat considering the time which has elapsed since then.”
Stuart, who now lives in Balfron, is planning to donate the suit to his niece, Lesley, who collects vintage clothing for her work in film and television.
RW Forsyth was one of Scotland’s oldest and best-known stores, with a presence in Glasgow (the Union Street-Renfield Street junction, above) and Princes Street in Edinburgh.
Originally a hosier, glover and shirtmaker in 1872, by 1897 it had expanded over six floors in Glasgow city centre, and had built up a reputation for quality fashion and school uniforms, and excellent customer service.
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“It is a Scottish word for quality and service, solid worth and eternal life," Jack Webster wrote in our sister title The Herald in August 1981, amidst persistent reports that Forsyth’s was on the market.
Two years later, it was announced that the Glasgow shop would be relocating to the Treron’s store, at No 254 Sauchiehall Street, to form Treron-Forsyth. Eventually, Treron's dropped the Forsyth and the name was lost from the city centre.
The customers at Forsyth’s were polite, and mostly quite old-fashioned, recalls Stuart.
“On one occasion, I remember a young window dresser set a display in the main window with men brawling, to show off menswear,” he says.
“A horrified customer threatened to close her store account unless said window was changed.”
Stuart adds, laughing: “The window was promptly changed and the window dresser’s career with Forsyth’s ended somewhat abruptly.”
Stuart became a hairdresser “by default”, he says, having left Hyndland Secondary with few qualifications.
“A family friend knew the wife of the CEO of Baxter Sturrock, William S Baxter, so an interview was arranged and I got the job,” he explains.
“I worked there as a stylist and ultimately progressed to area manager, responsible for the company’s 14 salons.”
Stuart adds: “During my career, I travelled to London for advanced training with Vidal Sassoon, firstly in the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.
"There I met the great man and watched him work on his many famous clients, such as Mary Quant, Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw and Dusty Springfield.”
After a year at the helm in Forsyth’s, Stuart took over the running of the Fraser’s salon (then Wylie & Lochhead) before moving to Bearsden, where he and his wife Gail ran Match Box Fashions, a successful clothing and footwear boutique, until their retirement eight years ago.
Stuart, who was born and brought up in Kelvindale in Glasgow’s West End, has two daughters, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
“I could spend a long time telling you tales from Forsyth’s,” he says, fondly. “It was an amazing experience and the memories always come flooding back when I pass the building.”
Do you remember Forsyth's? Get in touch with your memories and pictures by emailing ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.
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