Hairdresser Geoffrey from Shipston worked alongside the greats like Vidal Sassoon
GEOFFREY Cox celebrated 50 years of hairdressing in Shipston this week during a career that has seen him stand shoulder-to-shoulder at international competitions with the greats like Vidal Sassoon.
Geoffrey’s father paid 100 guineas (£105) to help his son become a hairdresser at the age of 15. He trained at Helena Ladd hairdressers in Sheep Street, Stratford, under the tutorship of the late Francis Prentice.
“My father thought I was going to be a gent’s hairdresser, but I said didn’t want to do that – I enjoyed the ladies’ hairdressing instead,” Geoffrey told the Herald. “I became very good and was a British junior champion and eventually worked at Peter Webb in Solihull and I got to work alongside Vidal Sassoon on stage at international trade shows in London.
“It was a very exciting time in the 1960s and 70s.”
Golden years is probably the best way to describe Geoffrey’s career as his trophy haul amounted to 30 from various hairdressing competitions, including winning the Scottish Open Championships, the National Junior Championship, being selected for the British World Cup team in the Ladies’ Hairdressing Championships in Vienna, representing Britain in the European Championships in Switzerland and he was a prize winner in Paris, Vienna and Barcelona.
Geoffrey, 73, always wanted to run his own business and, after spells of hairdressing in Stratford, Solihull and Evesham, eventually he settled on Shipston where he opened Head Hunters on 2nd July, 1974 – the Herald reported on the event.
The newspaper was there again on Tuesday this week to join in the 50th anniversary celebrations.
“I took out a 20-year lease on the property and after 13 years I was able to buy it,” Geoffrey recalled. “My guest customers at the opening who cut the ribbon were two bank managers in Shipston – Mr Lomas from the Midland Bank, and Mr John Pierce from Lloyds.
“John Horseman was my first customer who has been having his hair cut here ever since. He came along for a trim on Tuesday but I didon’t charge him for that one.”
After 50 years in the trade, has Geoffery cut the hair of anybody famous?
“Yes,” he said. “Dame Judi Dench, Susannah York, Jane Lapotaire and Joan Sanderson, the headmistress in the comedy series, Please Sir!”
When it comes to hairdressing trends, Geoffrey’s seen it all; the Purdey, made famous by actress, Joanna Lumley in the New Avengers, the flick fringe, like Farrah Fawcett had in the television series, Charlie’s Angels, the mullet as showcased by football stars, and the perm which is making a comeback, particularly among schoolboys – according to Geoffrey.
Rubbing shoulders with the best was second nature to Geoffrey and to the list add Mr Teasy-Weasy and Trevor Sorbie, though he still rates Peter Webb as one of his favourites.
Geoffrey is married to Joan who used to be his competition model on show days, and they have two children – Caroline and Jonathan – and two grandchildren. To this day, he still cuts his wife’s hair.
Tuesday was a surprise celebration for Geoffrey who turned up for work in Shipston at 8.30am as usual and then he saw the balloons, bunting and pictures that covered the front and inside of his salon. Family, friends and clients were invited to share the party spirit and gave Geoffrey cards and lots of wine but after all this time, is it time to think about retirement?
“Oh no – I will carry on as usual,” Geoffrey said.