J. Lyons & Co.
Lyons Waiting Staff
The 'Gladys' and the 'Nippy'
In the early days the J. Lyons waitress was known as a 'Gladys'. The name 'Nippy' was not coined until 1926.
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The top image (right) is an 1899 drawing of a 'Gladys' by well-known illustrator Mars.
![marsgladys1.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_947224e87ca540108a5f3a0de9f8a8d9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_308,h_488,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/marsgladys1.jpg)
![gladys2.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_b37f663434f140a8b11626e0e0b3a410~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_12,w_701,h_312/fill/w_596,h_265,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/gladys2.jpg)
This photo appeared in an old issue of Lyons Mail (Lyons' in-house magazine). It was taken at the Frano-British Exibition held at Shepherd's Bush in 1908. The girl at the front left is thought to be Nell Bacon, who was later to rise to become Superintendent of Teashops.
![gladys1.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_623e864d589b4333a1fe010674f3826e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_507,h_542,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/gladys1.jpg)
Women dressed in 'Gladys' uniforms (date unknown). The styles must have changed over the years as can be seen when comparing the group photo above.
![nippy.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_d663ef1fbde04e72808bab33feefbcca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_68,h_89,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/nippy.jpg)
Binnie Hale, a well-known actress of the day.
![cyclist3.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_e7b562a41f5e4da2bd34c57932ec92a6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_146,h_359,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/cyclist3.jpg)
![cyclists2.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_10f25b51de8742d49d54b1b85a68ee84~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_129,h_360,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/cyclists2.jpg)
Nippy waitresses, wearing specially designed gear, preparing for a cycle event at Herne Hill in 1930.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_bc701fc66c0f4f49a75f170e6b7ef41e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_190,h_430,al_c,lg_1,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/82aad2_bc701fc66c0f4f49a75f170e6b7ef41e~mv2.jpg)
![New Nippys St George Rose Hospital Colle](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_e6cfddc02a91498893908896517a133a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_105,h_78,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/New%20Nippys%20St%20George%20Rose%20Hospital%20Colle.jpg)
Nippies meeting Prince George during fundraising for St George's Hospital on 23 April 1920 (Read Rose of St George).
![nippy4.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_9dfe790d4aca491b86a694e75007259b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_81,h_110,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/nippy4.jpg)
Nippy images from a training film.
![nippy3.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_9f171830d65a4affba844dbd9c464f97~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_109,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/nippy3.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_c22482da4d5a4918a1152f51c3952a90~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_138,h_165,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/82aad2_c22482da4d5a4918a1152f51c3952a90~mv2.jpg)
Nippy outfits became popular for children to dress up in for local fetes and pageants.
![kid6.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_c28e84bf14914e5aa2e0b93cba6f5eb8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_123,h_165,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/kid6.jpg)
![kid4.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_1210160edd1f4ad38b4595cd9496e94e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_140,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/kid4.jpg)
![kid5.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_18683e75ddab4f1c86e12737c4803052~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_139,h_165,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/kid5.jpg)
![kid1.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_e1639c896e964fcf86e7f478f497fdba~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_131,h_165,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/kid1.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_c167de2fe58b466fad232696864d6e26~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_51,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/82aad2_c167de2fe58b466fad232696864d6e26~mv2.jpg)
![Nippy Cigarette Packet.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_32699b9ffe48450cb2b4756cd4814576~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_96,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Nippy%20Cigarette%20Packet.jpg)
![nippy.rose.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82aad2_bcd722aab9d34e56a3be46433873fb12~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_53,h_75,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/nippy_rose.jpg)
There were Nippy sandwiches, Nippy cigarettes and even a Nippy rose. Binnie Hale (above) starred in a dance show called 'Nippy' in 1931. Pathe footage of it can be seen on the British Pathe site.