1965-201550TH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING

‘The Cosmetics Kings’Len Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Tony Wade

Saturday June 20th 2015 at 3PMThe Bourne Methodist Church

Bourneside, Southgate N14 6RS, London

Moderator: Rev. Vernon Thomas

FINAL VERSION

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Welcome Address | Rudi Page

Hymn | Praise My Soul the King of Heaven

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;To His feet thy tribute bring.Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,Who like thee His praise should sing:Praise Him, praise Him, Praise the everlasting King.

Praise Him for His grace and favourTo our fathers in distress;Praise Him still the same as ever,Slow to chide, and swift to bless.Praise Him, praise Him!Glorious in His faithfulness.

Father like He tends and spares us,Well our feeble frame He knows;In His hands He gently bears us,Rescues us from all our foes.Praise Him, praise Him!Widely as His mercy flows.

Angels, help us to adore Him,Ye behold Him face to face;Sun and moon, bow down before Him;Dwellers all in time and space,Praise Him, praise Him!Praise with us the God of grace.

Henry Francis Lyle, 1793-1847

Prayers – Rev Dr Baroness Kathleen Richardson

Selections | London All-Male Voice Choir

Lessons | Sharon Dyke

Tributes | Rudi Page, Joan Sam, Norma Ellis, Karen Hamilton-Bannis, Clayton Goodwin and JD Douglas on behalf of absent friends

Keynote Address | Dr Keith Davidson

Sermon | Rev Dr Baroness Kathleen Richardson

Hymn | Now Thank We All Our Lord

Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom this world rejoices; Who from our mothers’ armsHas blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us; And keep us still in grace, And guide us when perplexed; And free us from all ills, In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given; The Son, and him who reigns With them in highest heaven; The one, eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.

Martin Rinkart, 1556-1649

Blessings

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WE AT DYKE & DRYDEN ARE HONOURED TO BE AMONG

THE TRAILBLAZERS!

The second edition of How They Made A Million, has been called for by kind folk who wanted to learn more about my thoughts and vision for black enterprise in the 21st century. In responding to the call for my thoughts, I am humbly gratified that people should care enough about my views on enterprise and agreed to rise to the challenge.

One thing for sure is clearly a must, our educational ambitions, out of necessity, must keep pace with the fast-moving technological changes taking place around us. This approach, I believe, together with fostering an increased effort in promoting the Diversity Agenda, will help to keep us as a community firmly on the frontiers of science and at the cutting edge of the changes taking place in society.

As forward looking citizens, our major aims should always be to become visibly active and striving to become fully engaged stakeholders in all aspects of local and national life. In this connection, I suggest aiming to share meaningfully thus becoming part of the fabric of society, politically, economically, socially and that we direct our aspirations to make

MESSAGE FROM TONY WADE

an input into the policy formations that shape our lives and our destiny. Interestingly, the calls for jotting down my thoughts came from a broad-based group of individuals of inner-city reformers, social scientists and a host of others including budding young business persons looking at ways in which they may improve their opportunities. Some of the questions to me were quite personal, down to earth and reasonable. It would have been great, some folks suggested, to see some of the trophies and awards collected over the years. These are telling and carry the same message.

Management Today, one of Britain’s leading business magazines, in its 1987 issue dubbed my colleagues and me “the invisible men” with a caption that read, “at long last Britain is beginning to produce home-grown entrepreneurs.

My colleagues, Len Dyke and Dudley Dryden, were men of immense vision, lending their names to a partnership, which in June 1968 became a limited liability when I acquired one third of the equity. They were equally magnanimous in their call to rename the business Dyke, Dryden & Wade, which I decided was unnecessary.

As a team, our skills were complementary. We shared a common philosophy. That of putting the needs of building the business above everything else. Without their vision, hard work and drive there would be no story to tell.

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Len Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Tony Wade, as the leaders of Dyke & Dryden Ltd, were men of vision, steel and action. They were “Caribbean Titans” of the 20th century who challenged socio-economic stereotyping and overcame the challenges of discrimination, yet still stayed true to the Caribbean communities aspirations to make progress, despite the unrelenting obstacles of the time. They were social entrepreneurs long before it became a popular term within the UK, and were particularly dedicated to the social needs of the Caribbean community. Dyke & Dryden Ltd was the largest provider of trade credit to black business sector, which included salons, retailers, wholesalers, beauticians and self-employed stylists.

I joined Dyke & Dryden Ltd, Tottenham, as their first sales representative during June 1981. I had met Tony Wade a year earlier when I was working for an advertising company. I visited salons, retail outlets and exhibited the leading products such as, Sta-sof-fro, Carefree Curl, TCB, Hairlox, Johnson, Natural Beauty and Super Curl, all over the UK. I was with Tony Wade when Boots decided to stock black hair products for the first time and I visited the stores and met the managers and staff.

During July 1982, I was promoted to sales and marketing manager and as part of a delegation of 40 Hairdresser’s and retailers arranged by Dyke & Dryden Ltd, I visited the world-famous Bronner Bros, Exhibition & Showcase, Atlanta, USA, at the time the largest black hair and beauty showcase in the world. It was for this reason, I obtained my first passport and have worked in 21 countries since that time.

I was tasked to coordinate Dyke & Dryden’s first exhibition which I titled, “Afro Hair & Beauty 1983”. The showcase was opened by Lady Pitt, who said, “Black is beautiful and we must never be tired of saying so or showing how true that is.” All the objectives set by the company were achieved; to promote black hairdressing and hair-care products, to help educate and motivate others into an awareness of dignity and self-respect. Also to ensure that black hair-care and beauty business owners should receive the serious attention of the people who should know and care.

The excellent student styling competition, organised by Caribbean and Afro Society of Hairdressers, was won by Ashia School of hairdressing, Electric Avenue, Brixton. It underlines those sentiments. Joan Sam of Supreme School of Hair Design, Turnpike Lane, N8 and Supreme Super curl technical consultant, expert demonstrations on BBC TV “Breakfast Time” and “Pebble Mill at One” have contributed to the total awareness as we were are all striving to be accepted as professionals in the industry.

Len Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Tony Wade handed me the baton and over the last 30 years, I have done my best to continue their legacy of self-reliance, determination and the willingness to make a significant contribution to the advancement of our community through community development, health management and international development.

TRIBUTE FROM RUDI PAGE

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Some of my earliest memories of Dyke & Dryden Ltd was at 43 West Green Rd, Tottenham, N15, during the 1970s. It was a 4 storey building: ground floor was the wig and cosmetic shop, 1stfloor – travel agency, later moved to 93 West Green Rd, run by Mr Dyke , 2ndfloor was Mr Wade’s office and the 3rdfloor was let to tenants.

Before 43 West Green Rd became a wig and cosmetic shop, Mr Dyke and Mr Dryden sold vinyl records as Double D Records. The music was primarily reggae imported from Jamaica and the USA. There was a small selection of products including cosmetics such as lipsticks, powders and Dax pomade. Mr Dryden acquired a market stall selling cosmetics and wigs at Ridley Road Market, Dalston.

Dyke & Dryden expanded and moved to 126a West Green, managed by the late Mrs Elsa Robinson, who was extremely meticulous when styling and combing the wigs, assisted by Mrs Myrna Thompson. There was also a small selection of natural foods and herbal remedies.

During school holidays, the stock room became a mini factory. My brother, Lenny and myself would painstakingly fill bottles of castor oil and coconut oil, label the bottles and pack the bottles in boxes for distribution.

MEMORIES FROM

SHARON DYKE-MILLS

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Anthony Edward Samuel Wade is a man deserving of his full title whenever he is addressed. He has been instrumental in the early development of my hairdressing career, which was encouraged by the three directors of Dyke & Dryden when I started working for them in the early sixties in West Green Road, Tottenham, North London.

During my employment there, I expressed my wish to qualify as a hairdresser and then open a hairdressing salon and school. I was encouraged to take the first step towards that dream and I enrolled in the well-respected Morris Masterclass in London’s West End.

After graduating with honours, Mr Morris asked me to become a tutor, which I readily accepted, as that experience was invaluable to achieve my ultimate aim to go into the beauty business. I enjoyed the job immensely, but eventually I knew I had to return to fulfilling my goals.

I was always in touch with Dyke & Dryden and especially with Mr Wade as I had recognised a special like-mindedness between us. We had the same positive approach to business development ideas and there were lots of things I could learn from him and maybe vice versa. My huge problem at that time, however, was lack of enough finance. Tony and the other directors decided to become my partner and Supreme Hair Salon and School of Hairdressing was born.

The business flourished, gaining recognition from local government offices, enabling us to win contracts to train unemployed young people and adults. Apart from locally, we were getting applications from abroad and had a healthy influx of overseas students.

With that going well, Tony and I started to work on product development ideas with our chemist, which resulted in us travelling to The Bronner Brother Hair Show in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and visiting the home of the founder of the M&M International Hair Co., and meeting a few celebrities on the way.

Tony and I were invited to Nigeria to participate in the first Oyo State Hair Exhibition. There, we successfully demonstrated our own product called Super Curl, which ultimately became one of the most popular curl-creating exports from the UK.

There is so much more to my business experience with Tony Wade and his positive influences on me-first, as my boss, and then business partner, and now friends for always. He is a man with a vision which develops into a mission, a man with integrity and a strong sense of fair play. I have been a better person for knowing him and honoured to be called his friend. – December 29, 2013

Anthony Wade was my boss for 10 years, when I worked as his personal assistant/human resources manager. He was an excellent example of a good leader, a visionary, in his choice of business. He was never afraid to break new ground, at the same time encouraging others to venture into their own businesses. He was never too busy to become involved. He is the epitome of one who serves his fellowmen and country. For me, he was my mentor, my inspiration, one who saw possibilities and made them a reality. On my return to Barbados in 1988, I worked as a human resources manager for American Airlines and in my interaction with the staff, became aware of the need for a nursery facility near the workplace in the city. After some research (a practice of Tony Wade), I opened a day care centre, which caters to children between ages three month to five years. He was my inspiration. December 7, 2013.

TRIBUTE FROM MRS JOAN SAM

TRIBUTE FROM MRS PEARL GOODRIDGE

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In 2004, quite by chance, I borrowed a copy of How They Made A Million. I found it compelling reading and finished within a few days. After decades of not knowing, I had within a few days, been greatly enlightened on the struggles and triumphs of three men, Dudley Dryden, Len dyke and Tony Wade, who together made their North London-based hair care and beauty business, Dyke & Dryden, hugely successful.

I was subsequently privileged to be able to spend quality time speaking with Tony Wade and listening to his detailed account of his business years. There were truly eye-opening discussions as I was one of many customers who regularly purchased Dyke & Dryden products, one of their popular navy blue hair picks combs was always in my cosmetics bags.

While listening one day to Smooth Radio FM, I heard that in collaboration with Colourful Network and others, they were sponsoring the first Black Achievement Awards. Nominations were invited. After hearing of the various categories, I took down the details. Around this time, Len Dryden was terminally ill in hospital. I had visited him with my mother who told me how kind and helpful he had been on a particular occasion when she needed assistance with officialdom as a trainee teacher.In recognition of what I regarded as ground-breaking achievements by Tony Wade and his business partners, I decided to make a nomination for the lifetime achievement award. My nomination had to be made online, in no more than 100 words, and read as follows:Dyke & Dryden Limited, one of Britain’s largest black enterprises during the last century, pioneered the UK’s black hair-care industry. Serving D&D as chief executive and chairman, Tony Wade’s business experience spanned 31 years, covering every sector of the industry.D&D’s subsidiary. Afro Hair &Beauty, was founded in 1982 to promote the Afro Hair and Beauty Show at London’s Alexander Palace. Now an institutionalized event, this annual two-day exhibition attracts international participation and is included in the Tourist Board’s events calendar. The huge employment generated by D&D was recognised with Tony Wade’s MBE honour in 1987.

There were many impressive nominees who went through an interview process, followed by shortlisting. The presentation took place at the London Guildhall, a wonderful event showcasing the best of British black business. My anxiety must have been palpable as the nominations were read out. Then came the winning announcement, my nominee, Tony Wade.

Claire Jackson, Afro Hair & Beauty events manager for 10 years, who has been a central pillar in the organization, says, “I look back on my years as events director of Afro Hair & Beauty Exhibition as a period of great joy and challenge.”

In her address in Afro Hair & Beauty ’97 magazine, Jackson wrote, inter alia, “Afro Hair & Beauty has always been proud of its commitment to the progression and development of the community and make a point of giving something back. To that end, we are pleased to benefit The African Caribbean Mental Health Association, the African Caribbean Leukemia Trust and UNICEF. The behind-the-scenes team has also expanded. We are delighted to welcome Brownstone Communications, the New Nation production team, as well as firm regulars, Key Communications. But all of this is irrelevant without the support of our exhibitors and visitors. We extend our warmest and most sincere thanks to you all.”

TRIBUTE FROM CLAIRE JACKSON

TRIBUTE FROM MARGARET ALEXANDER

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Another great find in the early days of the business was Rudi Page. He possessed great marketing and selling skills and came on board as sales manager, leading and inspiring a small team, who together succeeded in opening up extensive territorial presence and brand awareness across the entire country. He was someone full of drive and ambition.

Page was later promoted to sales and marketing manager and later played a key role in the launch of the company’s subsidiary Afro hair & Beauty, founded in 1982. With his youthful enterprise, he was asked to take the lead in the task of liaising with potential exhibitors, exhibition contractors, hairdressers, fashion designers and models, and to work with Jane Harmond of Trident Public Relations, our PR company, in pulling things together. Page coined the term ‘Afro Hair & Beauty, which aptly describes what the exhibition was all about.

Dyke and Dryden had organised the first trip to the Bronner Brothers Show in Atlanta for Black Hairdressers and retailers. It was the model on which Afro Hair & Beauty was based. As a reward for his performance the previous year, Page was sent on a trip where he made the best use of his visit by observing the steps to follow.

Afro Hair and Beauty eventually became Dyke and Dryden’s marketing arm, the vehicle driving the industry in the UK and opening markets across Europe.

Taken from How They Made A Million – The Dyke and Dryden Story written by Tony Wade with a foreword by Bill Morris.

Rudi Page and Paulette Grier

RUDI PAGEA KEY ALL ROUNDER

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THE SOCIAL SCENE

Tony Wade and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at No 10 Downing Street, Feb ’84.

Miss Dyke & Dryden Ball 1970

Tony Wade and Margaret Alexander who nominated him for the Black Enterprises Award, 2005.

Dyke & Dryden making a presentation to Jamaica’s National Festival Queen 1987 Yvette Taylor

Dudley Dryden and his wife Agatha Dryden at Buckingham Palace after receiving his MBE

Rudi Page and Paulette Grier, Dyke & Dryden staff community outreach at Dr Barnardos Children’s Home.

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AFRO HAIR & BEAUTYFounded in 1982, Afro Hair and Beauty soon became Dyke & Dryden’s marketing arm. The term was coined by Rudi Page, sales and marketing manager. It was an organization dedicated to the education, development and promotion of ethnic hair care in Britain and it remained the shop window of the industry. It means self-employment and independence for thousands of people in a variety of ways. The company’s first exhibition, held at the prestigious five-star Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, was a trail-blazing affair, welcomed by the industry and public alike.

Black people and their friends responded to the press and radio commercials and came in their thousands, eager to see at first-hand what this new and exciting happening was all about. Jane Hammond of Trident Public Relations did a splendid job in creating national and international awareness, filling the venue to capacity and was duly credited for a job well done. Lady Dorothy Pitt performed the opening ceremony, paying a fitting tribute to all the participants from home and those who travelled from overseas.

Over the years, the exhibition has had an enormous influence on the development of many small ethnic businesses and the expansion of several medium-sized companies providing a sizeable number of jobs.Kingsley Peters, former accountant and financial director and who helped to set up the exhibition, said, “It was the first black-owned company to kindle the true spirit of enterprise … Its publicity value was incalculable. It led, in my view, directly to the catapulting of the company into its ascendancy.”

Claire Jackson, events manager for 10 years, was extremely hard working, conscientious, perceptive, and has made a most valuable contribution to the product of Afro Hair and Beauty. Dyke & Dryden is gratified in seeing the fulfilment of the objectives for which the exhibition was founded. There is little doubt about the influence and impact it has had on almost every sphere of life across the country. Lady Pitt opening the first Afro Hair & Beauty

exhibition at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Claire Jackson, Afro Hair & Beauty events manager for 10 years.

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Dyke & Dryden has been a community business right from the start, kindling that ‘can-do’ spirit, which somehow seemed to have been evading the vast majority of the black community in the UK at the time.Music as a launch pad for the business could not be more appropriate for it provided that missing something, which was an intrinsic part of our culture.In many ways, D&D, through its d i r e c t o r s , has made an i n v a l u a b l e contribution to the development of the UK’s black community. Afro Hair & Beauty, founded in 1982, became part of our community development policy by always allocating a number of the free booth spaces to small news business start-ups, enabling them to display their goods, services and skills in several different disciplines.

One community activity that stood out which was of mutual benefit was the annual Miss Dyke & Dryden beauty pageant and ball, held for many years. These glittery social events, held at various hotels, provided a welcome respite from the drudgery of everyday routine. They also opened a window of opportunity for girls who wished to pursue a career in modelling.

All three directors, already engaged in public life, were to become further involved. Len Dyke chaired the West Indian standing Conference for some considerable time and later put in time with prisons, Immigration, and was a Mental Health Act manager with the Haringey Mental health Trust, dealing with patients’ appeals.

Dudley Dryden also worked with the Conference holding various offices. He did some fine work as vice-chairman of Haringey Race Relations Council

and served as a liaison officer with the police. His skills in human relations was widely respected and honoured in 1984 with an MBE. After the Scarman Report after the Brixton Uprisings, the government acted on its recommendations and Tony Wade was chosen to chair the North London Business Development Agency (NLBDA), which was opened by Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne,

on September 17, 1986. Time spent at the NLBDA was a resounding s u c c e s s , d e l i v e r i n g well over 3 0 0 0 b u s i n e s s s t a r t - u p s with a s u r v i v a l rate above the national a v e r a g e .

Several of these businesses became wealth-creators. Tony Wade was also director of the North London Training Enterprise Council for 10 years and non-executive director with the New River Health Authority serving the boroughs of Enfield and Haringey. He was a member of the Ethnic Minorities Business Group.

In 1993 Wade was chosen chairman for a non-governmental body to deal with the redevelopment of Stonebridge Estate comprising 17, 500 dwellings and 5000 residents in the London borough of Brent, one of the poorest inner-city areas. The job was to refurbish the estate, improve the social conditions by way of job creation through training and by improvement in community and leisure facilities. Many more organisations were to benefit from Dyke & Dryden’s outreach efforts: The women’s prison at Holloway, the Afro-Educational Project and NCH Action For Children. There was also significant cash support to a number of organisations. Contributions to these bodies perhaps reflect, in some small way, our belief in being an inclusive society.

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Her Royal Highness,Princess Anne unveiling the plaque to officially open the North London Business Development Agency on September 17, 1986. Looking on are Executive Director Winston Collymore and Chairman Tony Wade.

NLBDA board membersFront left to right: Henry Ducrose, Jan Buckingham and Tony Wade.Back left to right: Dave Rigby, George Martin, Manny Cotter and Ernest Afrique.

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May 1965 – Dyke & Dryden founded by Len Dyke and Dudley Dryden in West Green Road, North London selling records and cosmetics

• 1968 – The partnership became a limited company when Tony Wade, a credit controller, joined Dyke & Dryden.

• 1971 – Dudley Dryden joined the company on a full-time basis.

• 1973 – The music section of Dyke & Dryden closed.

• 1975 – Dyke & Dryden 10th anniversary.

• 1982 – The Boots chain started to sell Dyke & Dryden’s products.

• 1983 – Afro Hair & Beauty marked the marketing arm of Dyke & Dryden and made a difference.

• 1983 – Dyke & Dryden moved offices from 5000 to 16 500 square feet.

• April 1983 – Dyke & Dryden became the first company to receive the Black Business Community Award.

• 1983 – The first black company to participate in a British Government-sponsored trade mission.

• February 1984 – Dyke & Dryden invited to meet Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at No. 10 Downing St to celebrate the country’s best entrepreneurs.

• 1985 – Dyke & Dryden 20th anniversary.

• November 1995 – At the British Overseas Trade Board Conference in the Barbican, Dyke & Dryden was one of five companies selected in their marketing campaign, aimed at encouraging small and medium-size companies into exporting.

• November 1987 – Dyke & Dryden sold their shares to Soft Sheen of the USA.

• May 1995 – Dyke & Dryden’s 30th anniversary.

• September 1995 – Tony Wade bought back Dyke & Dryden from Soft Sheen.

• 2005 – Dyke & Dryden’s 40th anniversary.

• 2005 – Winners of LIFE TIME Business Award sponsored by DTI, UKTI & Colourful Network, Guild Hall

• 2015 – Dyke & Dryden’s 50th anniversary.

MILESTONES

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AWARDS AND HONOURS

1980 Golden Sunrise Award presented by Margaret Alexander

1983 Caribbean Times Community Services Award

1984 Dudley Dryden received MBE for human relations and community service

1985 Caribbean Times Awards for Achievement and Service

1986 Caribbean And Afro Society of Hair Dressers Appreciation Award

1987 M&M products Most Distinguished Distributor Award

1990 25th Anniversary Award from ShopTalk Publication Inc

2005 Black Enterprises Award – Lifetime Achievement in business sponsored by The Colourful Network

2007 European Federation of Black Business Owners’ Heritage Award sponsored by London Metropolitan University

1987 Tony Wade received MBE for Services to employment

1991 Award from Councillor Shaikah to celebrate 25 years of success

Rudi PageTel. +44 (0) 7958 744660rudi@makingconnectionswork.com | www.makingconnectionswork.com

Best Wishesto all

Dyke & Dryden Staff

“We did our Best”

Afro Hair & Beauty 1983: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI_nzoyEIL0