Back then, the barbershop in Crosgates was run by Gerald Henry and his new employee was just 17.

Now, Terry's name is above the door and he is about to help The Arndale Centre celebrate its 40th birthday.

* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Cross Gates Today.

* Click here for latest news in Cross Gates, Colton, Temple Newsam and Whitkirk.

When Terry became a barber, The Arndale Centre, since renamed Crossgates Shopping Centre, was ahead of its time.

Its 1967 opening brought the first covered shopping centre to the north of England, drawing people from miles around to try the retail experience of the future.

Arndale came from the name of the company that was building the new
covered malls up and down Britain.

Six are thought to remain in business.

In 1970, the barbershop was flanked on one side by June Audrey's hairdresser's, run by Gerald Henry's sister, and on the other by Victoria Wines.

Terry remembers the shop being busy, as customers came in to have their long 1970s tresses touched up.

It was about that time it saw possibly its most famous customer ; the now legendary nightclub boss, Peter Stringfellow.
Terry recalled: "He was the DJ at Rockefellers back then. His hair was long, like it is now. That's if it was him ; I've started to doubt it over the years."

After 18 years of scissor service, Terry bought the shop and became his own boss.

He still employs as many people as worked there in 1970.
He said: "There is a lot more competition now but there is still plenty to do. I've had 37 happy years here and never thought about going anywhere else.

"The place has changed...there used to be a lot of independent shops; now there are only a few. It's good that somewhere not in a city centre can do so well for so long."
Planning is under way for a 40th birthday party later this year.

The late 1960s newspaper cuttings advertising the new Arndale boast of the centre's air conditioning and traffic-free covered mall.
Adverts plug car shows there, with gleaming Vauxhall Vivas or Minis,
and even boat shows.

There also seemed to be quite a few Miss Arndale contests, with Lynda Marie Ramsden, then of Dennil Crescent, Cross Gates, the winner in 1971.
A photograph shows the then 16-year-old flanked by Leeds United stars Allan Clarke and Paul Reaney.

Centre manager Steve Seymour said: "We became Crossgates Shopping Centre 15 years ago, but ask the customers and 99 per cent would say it's The Arndale Centre.

"It is their community centre."