Phyllida’s fashion filled me with joy

THE article about Phyllida Law (Mail) brought back very pleasant memories of my teenage years growing up in Glasgow. My mother worked for a lovely elderly lady who lived in Queen Margaret Drive. I often accompanied her to work, and got to know this lady and her live-in nurse very well. Her granddaughter would visit from England, and I remember thinking what a beautiful and unusual name ‘Phyllida’ was. Indeed, I’ve never heard of anyone else with that name. Before Phyllida went back to England, she would always leave me clothing she’d outgrown. This was in the early Fifties when everything was still in short supply, so you can imagine how delighted I was to receive smart London fashions! What I remember best was a two-piece sundress, which I never had the courage to wear on the beach but would try on at home and felt like a poor impression of Betty Grable. Phyllida is 85 and I’ll be 80 next year, but I’ve never forgotten her kindness and that of her grandmother and nurse. When I married in 1958, they all gave me lovely wedding gifts, and the nurse altered the bolero of my wedding dress. I was delighted to read about Phyllida and reminisce. After more than 60 years I can at last say: ‘Thank you, Phyllida. You may not remember me, but I’ve never forgotten your generosity. You made a young teenager very happy indeed.’

Mrs kathleen Brodie (nee Gallacher), Corby, Northants.

Jill Rundle, Oundle, Northants.