BARBER Dave Willet, who started at the age of 15 years as an apprentice to his uncle Sid Lee, was visited on Friday 31st August by the mayor of Monmouth, Councillor Terry Christopher on the last day of an illustrious 58-year career.

Cllr Christopher congratulated him on his wonderful achievement of maintaining the business as a barber within the town over the past almost 60 years: “To survive in business for such a long period of time, is truly a remarkable achievement, and is a credit to you,” he said.

“It’s a very emotional day for me today,” said Dave, hours away from closing the shop door for good. “I’ve enjoyed my time meeting everybody over the years, but the time has come to close shop”.

Trade has been declining over the years with the advent of the new style of mens’ hairdressers now popping up all over town.

Gone are the days of the ‘short back and sides’ and ‘something for the weekend sir?’ as modern salons now draw in the style-conscious youngsters who demand the latest disconnected undercut or tapered fohawk.

“I can do all the cuts that are fashionable today but the kids want to go elsewhere now,” Dave added.

He has been cutting the hair of some customers for 50 years, and once he had four generations of one family come in for a haircut.

But times have changed and so must the traditions that went with them. With 13 places in town where a man can get his hair cut, there is no place for a 73-year-old man whose life has been dedicated to providing a grooming service to generations of Monmothians.

Although you wouldn’t have thought that if you had seen his customers queuing up on his last day!