Hair today, gone tomorrow 

Swindon barber retires after 40 years

Wayne Hayward finally shut up shop today as a barber – after giving an estimated half a million haircuts to Swindon men.

Wayne, 63, is taking early retirement now the lease has run out on his Victoria Road shop, and although he has thoroughly enjoyed his life as a traditional barber, he is looking forward to the unusual experience of having Saturdays off.


“I started working on Saturdays as a barber before I left school, and I’ve never really had a Saturday off since, except when I’ve been on holiday.

“So I must say I’m looking forward to that, because there are lots of things I haven’t been able to do.

“For instance, about four years ago I took up carving walking sticks, and I’m intending to take some along to craft shows after I retire, which has been impossible before, because they are often held on Saturdays.”

When Wayne opened the shop, in the shadow of the old Swindon College, on December 1, 1969, it had already been a barber’s for at least 40 years.

He started out as a typical men’s barber’s of the era and has kept it traditional ever since.

Shops like his have now become what he calls “one of the last male strongholds”, although there have been changes over the years.

“In the old days, lots of people would have Brylcreem on their hair, but if they have anything these days, it’s usually gel or wax. And almost everybody comes for a haircut these days, rather than anything else.

“I was taught to use a cut-throat razor, but I’ve never used one in the shop.”

An aspect that has survived is customers turning up and waiting their turn, rather than making appointments.

“To be honest,” admits Wayne, “if I was starting out again now, I would introduce appointments because it lets you regulate the business more.”

It’s one of his few regrets in a job he says he’s always enjoyed.
“I’m a people person and I enjoy talking to people, so I am going to miss that.


“I had a chap in here the other day who said he came for a haircut on the second day the shop was open, which is very nice. Some people come every week.”

He’s even been invited to customers’ weddings – and a funeral.
“When I was cutting one chap’s hair, he told me he was dying, and asked if I would go to his funeral. Ten days later, his son came in to say he had died, and I was proud to go to the funeral.”

Incidents like that, says Wayne, show how most people are friendly and well-meaning – something that is also borne out in the fact that in nearly 40 years of trading, only one person has failed to pay.

“Sometimes people have a haircut and then realise they’ve come with no money.

“They will sometimes try to leave their watch as security, but I tell them it’s not a problem. I tell them to drop the money in when they’re next passing, and there’s no need to make a special journey.”

Only one of those still owes him the price of a haircut (currently £9 for a standard gents’ trim).

More worrying is customers being taken ill in the shop.

“Three people have had heart attacks in here, and sadly one died instantly. And another time a pregnant lady’s waters broke. She was here with her little boy.”

Not surprisingly, ladies are comparatively rare visitors to the shop, but they are a key part of the business.

“Women are very good for business because often men only come for a haircut because their wives have told them it’s about time. Otherwise, they wouldn’t come so often.”

Most women stop short of supervising their husband’s haircut - but not all.

In one memorable incident, a few years ago, one lady brought her husband back, an hour after he’d had a haircut, to complain that Wayne hadn’t cut enough off.

“I said that was fine, I would take off some more, but in future would she either come with him and explain how much to take off – or send a note!”


It’s one of the few complaints Wayne has ever had. He’s always careful to make sure the customer gets what he asks for, and double-checks if they request anything radical.

“If they ask for a really short cut, I offer to do it in stages, so they can see what it’s like, and it doesn’t come as too much of a shock.”

But being a barber is about much more than hairdressing. Some men see the barber’s chair as a kind of confessional.

“I could destroy a few marriages with the things people have told me over the years,” laughed Wayne. “What amazes me is they’ll still say it, even though there might be five other people waiting for a cut. I think they see me as a bit of a counsellor, and are quite prepared to tell me intimate details in front of the rest of the shop.”

Most people like to talk about holidays, jobs and hobbies, but some subjects are out of bounds.

“I was taught never to discuss religion, and I don’t talk politics much, unless it’s to agree with people. And it’s no good asking me about football, either, as I know nothing about it and I’m not into sports.

“I always try to get a conversation going, but sometimes people don’t want to say anything. One day a chap told me: ‘You’re bloody nosey!’ and I knew it was time to shut up!”

But if you make the effort to talk to Wayne, he remembers what you say – and sees it as a key skill for building customer relations.

“People appreciate it when you can remember what they said the last time they were in, so I try hard, and I have a pretty good memory.”

Soon his career will also be a memory – but a happy one, and he’s already looking forward to retirement – and not just because he’s about to experience Saturdays outside the shop for the first time.

Stick carving is the perfect hobby for winding down, and he’s already a member of the British Stick Makers’ Guild. He says it’s “very relaxing, listening to opera and whittling away”, but membership of a local rambling club is also on the cards, along with travel, with a long trip to New Zealand planned for 2010.
Nobody can say he hasn’t earned it.

Tools of the trade

Wayne's top tip

Barbers/stylists who work with others in a shop tend to cut each other’s hair, rather than their own. So you should always try to have your hair cut or styled by the one who has the worst hair, not the best!


For information about leasing the premises, see http://commercial.carterjonas.co.uk