I left Llanrwst Grammar School when I was 16 and my father asked me if I would like to open a shop in Betws. He bought me a small shop, just at the end of the row our shop's in now, and stocked it from his own shop in Capel Curig.

I was in sole charge for a few years. When I got married, we decided to extend part of the shop and live above it. Later on, we thought we'd like to extend even further, across into the Royal Oak beer garden. A friend of ours owned the pub and said he'd only sell us the garden if we bought the hotel as well, so we did!

My daughter now runs the shop and my son runs the Royal Oak and the Waterloo, which we also bought.

I've just celebrated 50 years of working here. I don't think a lot of people work in the same shop for 50 years, or start a business and stick with it for that long. I suppose it isn't unique, but it must be pretty rare.

We've got about 12 to 18 staff now and many have been with us for a long time. Elfed Jones has been with us for about 41 years, Linda for 25 years, Eirlys for 20 years.

Fifty years ago, we sold lots of tweed by the yard to make skirts and wool to knit matching jumpers. We also had honeycomb quilts, blankets and lots of flannel - things which were quite scarce then.

Then there were the dolls, sheepskin slippers and anything made in tapestry - handbags, purses, coats, capes, skirts - there was a big boom in all things tapestry.

Since Betws is now a centre for walkers and climbers, we sell a lot more outdoor gear, although the sheepskin slippers are as popular as ever.

We've also sold things to people further a field. I was just watching the film The King and I today and it reminded me of the time I posted a sheepskin rug addressed to the King of Sikkim. I said to the customer that I doubted it would get through customs - but he said: "He's the king, it'll get to him!"