A POPULAR hairdresser is hanging up his clippers after half a century of serving the people of Blackburn.

Jeff Stone, co-owner of Jeff Stone Hairdressing, retired yesterday after 51 years cutting the hair of the great and the ordinary of East Lancashire and further afield.

The shop in in Fleming Square, Blackburn, was a hive of activity as hundreds of customers popped in for a final haircut, to wish Mr Stone all the best or toast his retirement.

Mr Stone, who has been in Fleming Square for nearly 45 years, said it had been a pleasure serving the people of Blackburn and he had made plenty of friends for life.

He said: “It’s very emotional. It’s 51 years since I started work with my father up on Audley Range.

“That was the day he sent me down to the local shop for a tin of red and white striped paint so I could repaint the barbers’ post. And I went.

“I have seen massive changes in the profession in my time.

“It’s been a wonderful career of change because fashions come and go and the biggest challenge is being able translate people’s fleets of fancy into reality.

“The people that I have found to be famous would prefer for me to not mention their names.

“But I have cut the hair of the rich and famous from this area and from further afield.

“I once had Arthur Bostrom from ‘Allo ‘Allo! who was very funny. But you wouldn’t be able to print what he said.

“But the greatest glory of the job has been looking after families and being a servant to the people of East Lancashire.

“I haven’t had customers for years. I have had friends who have come for a haircut and that’s the big difference. I have loved doing it.”

Mr Stone received countless cards, gifts and phone calls congratulating him on his retirement and even got a personal visit from Ken Bunyon who was his first client.

Mr Stone, who lives in Lytham, said he is looking forward to spending more time with wife Pauline, children Christian and Elizabeth and grandchildren Benjamin and Joshua, as well as going travelling.

Retirement will also give him more time to devote to restoring his 1937 Austin 10.