Retiring Newbury hairdresser of 67 years was a cut above the rest

A Newbury salon owner is hanging up his shears after 67 years in the business.

Melvin West is handing over the keys of Sections and Stiles Hair Studio today (Thursday).

Mr West was told he was ‘a natural’ in 1956 when a hairdresser caught a glimpse of the work he’d done to his mother’s hair.

“Go into hairdressing,” she told him.

Mr West is now in his eighties has been enjoying hairdressing for decades.

“I wanted to be a mechanic,” he said.

“But I have had so much fun with this job.

“I like to talk to people, seeing people from different walks of life.

“It is just a marvellous vocation.”

Mr West – who first started at London Hairdressers in Market Street – opened his own salon in 72a Northbrook Street called Melvin’s Hers and Sirs.

And he has plenty of memorable moments that he will never forget.

“There was an Indian curry garden opposite and one day the waiter, who I was very friendly with, came along as I was going to lunch,” he said.

“He was touching his head and asked do you shave?

“I said yes okay, sat him in the chair and cut his hair off.

“I then came back from lunch and the restaurant owner said why did you shave my waiter’s hair off?

“I told him that’s what he had said [gestured] but he told me that he was just scratching his head,” Mr West laughed.

“I have had so much fun with this job.”

Mr West went on to relocate at different spots in Newbury and even spent some years in Thatcham.

In this time he has given people their first haircuts, their wedding haircuts and now cuts and styles the hair of their children and even some grandchildren.

Customer and friend Tony Pope said: “When you visited his salon, you could always guarantee good conversation, a joke and a laugh, and the haircuts weren’t bad either”

“Melvin has been an integral part of Newbury for over 65 years and I think that’s a feat that speaks for itself.

“He’ll be missed.”

But Mr West won’t be heading in a new direction, he is keen to keep cutting hair for another three years at JG Salon – which belongs to one of his former employees.

Mr West said anyone wishing to get in touch with him can do so on 07776 421169.