Final cut as a veteran hairdresser leaves job

RETIRING . . . Hairdresser Gerard Healey in Simon Gerard Salon, Hollins

A HAIRDRESSER is retiring from a long-established Oldham salon and handing over the business to a colleague who began there as a junior stylist.

Gerard Healey (63) is bidding farewell to staff and customers at the Simon Gerard salon on Hollins Road.

Colleague Kelly Lewis is taking over the business where she first arrived as a junior 24 years ago, after training in Failsworth.

Mr Healey bought the salon in 1986 and some of his customers have been regulars throughout all those years.

Oldham born-and-bred, Mr Healey attended the former St Alban's Secondary Modern School as a youngster before entering the hairdressing industry as a 16-year-old trainee.

He had a brief spell working at the Mario's Milan salon at Rhodes Bank in Oldham town centre before training at the Steiner salon in Manchester's Midland Hotel in 1969.

Reflecting on his time at the Hollins Road salon, Mr Healey said: "It's a lifetime. I have some customers here who have been coming here for 40 years, stretching back to the times before I was here.

"I've known some clients who are now in their 40s since they were children. I'm the only person who has ever cut their hair. It's quite a thought.

"I've seen them grow up, start school, leave school, get jobs, get married and then have their own children. I've seen other clients become grandparents.

"We've shared a lot of things over the years and customers have become friends. So there are lots of memories for me."

He added: "We've had a few tears thinking about it all."

Mr Healey retires this month and he hopes to move to Spain's Costa Blanca with his wife.

Along with Kelly, he will also be saying goodbye to the other stylists, Samantha Hopwood and trainee Caitlin Hamm.