Sheffield barber steps down after more than five decades

Denise Gillyett-Marshall, from Stannington, is retiring after almost 53 years in her barbers in Crookes, Sheffield.

Transcript

00:00Hello, I'm Denise from Denise's Barbers and Crooks.

00:03So after more than 50 years you are officially retiring.

00:08Yes, yes.

00:09How does it feel?

00:11Strange, I'm going to miss it. It's been my life for the last 53 years.

00:16So how did you get into this?

00:19Well, I used to live in Australia and my parents returned home to England

00:24and they wanted me to come back with them.

00:27When I came back I was going to go back again but my dad bought me this shop

00:33to keep me here and I'm still here.

00:36What are some of the highlights of your life, of your career here?

00:42Just meeting everybody, the people, the nice people.

00:46Most of them, well all of my customers, they're very nice people.

00:51Yeah and am I right in thinking that you've had some customers from the very beginning still here?

00:56Yeah, the one was still, he's 101 I think, something like that.

00:59He still comes into the shop.

01:02Do you know what cut he normally gets?

01:05Go back inside.

01:08Amazing, so what is next on the cards for you?

01:13I don't know really.

01:15I've just started learning the guitar so I'll practice my guitar a bit more.

01:19I've got a dog so I'll walk my dog.

01:22We have a flat in Spain so I'll be able to spend a bit of time over there

01:25which we've not been able to do because of the shop.

01:28What advice would you give to any other aspiring barbers?

01:33Just keep going, you've got to stick it out, you know.

01:37Don't expect to make a quick profit straight away, you've got to get a loyal following.

01:42You know, it took me about five years to make a profit when I first came here.

01:47Wow, so it's a labour of love.

01:49Yeah, people just give up after a couple of years, say no we're not making much money but

01:53you've got to persevere and get your loyal client in.

01:57Are you excited for the next chapter?

01:59I am and I'm not, I'm just wondering what it's going to be like, you know.

02:04I'm just so used to getting up early and coming up to the shop.

02:09It'll be strange but I'll get used to it.