Nostalgia: When British Home Stores was a first for Kirkcaldy and Scotland

And by this simple act he created history – he officially and marked the arrival of the first ever British Home Stores shop in Scotland.

The Fife Free Press called it a “compliment to the town” noting the new premises had a “huge sales floor and pleasant decor”, the first of five new stores planned for Scotland.

The FFP continued: “Although described officially as a medium-sized store, it gives one the feeling of being immense.

“It is quite impossible to take in all that there is to see during one visit.

“There is an amazing selection of goods on view; everything from light fittings to lingerie – and all are charmingly displayed on wide-set counters and stands.

“Men and children are well catered for but it is, perhaps, in the ladies’ departments that the quality of the “Prova” goods is most easily recognisable. “Prova” is the trade name for British Home Store goods.

“The dress department has already done a brisk trade for there are literally hundreds of dresses to choose from.

“One of the dresses, a red, white and blue striped shift, has actually been chosen as the standard uniform of the ladies accompanying this year’s British America Cup team, and is sure to be generally popular.

“However, the two departments of which the firm seem to be most proud are the millinery counters and the electrical section.

“During the last two weeks one of the windows in the store has been used entirely for the displaying of hats and many a female eye has lingered on the delightful array of stylish design.”

The electrical department was described as containing “wall lights, lamps and hairdriers... a great temptation for the housewife”.

For children there was the promise of a sweet bar divided into three sections with a multitude of different sweets in each.

“Each of the three lots is differently priced,” the FFP reported, “and the idea is that a person wishing a good selection of sweets can serve herself from any of the varieties at one particular price and can then take them to the assistant to be weighed.

“If she wished, she could have about a dozen different types of sweet in the one quarter pound!”.

The store also boasted a cafeteria, brightly coloured in turquoise and white, which promised to be “a boon to the tired shopper”.

Including Mr Drysdale the new BHS had a staff of 115, with the Press noting: “the staff conditions are excellent – they have their own lockers, cloakroom and dining room, and the employees themselves know that they have a high standard to maintain.”

Mr Drysdale himself said he was “confident of a bright future” for the store.

He added: “We had no opening day gimmicks or anything. We just wanted the public to see our store as it always will be.”

The store remained a prominent feature on Kirkcaldy High Street for many decades until, sadly, the chain went bust and it closed its doors in the Lang Toun for good in July 2016, resulting in the loss of 30 jobs.