Comments on: Lew Lessen, Barber

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:41:24 +0000

As a small boy,remember going to such places.always the same haircut. Clippers up the back of your neck,as far as they would go,then the same around the sides,then a bit of comb and razor work,followed by some white cream,that left your hair dry,then a load of white powder all over your very saw neck.GREAT used to dread it.

By: stan rondeau

stan rondeau — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:22:47 +0000

I have found all my life, barbers talk behind your back
Can you trust them ?

Stan Rondeau

By: Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:35:39 +0000

Thank you for this! My father was a barber for all of his working life (beginning at the age of 14 but interrupted by WW2 for service in N Africa, Sicily and Italy) and his experiences were much the same. I remember going with him to visit older men and disabled men and women to cut their hair, often on a Thursday afternoon, which was half-day closing in our town (Darlaston, then S.Staffs). One memory from my childhood is old men arriving in those blue invalid cars, and my father carrying the Great War veteran who had lost his legs up into the shop. Sadly, there seemed to be a lot of those – and blinded and otherwise maimed. Maybe it was because my father was used to the horrors of war that the felt comfortable coming to his shop, I don’t know.

His father was a barber before him, as was his. The family originated in London (I was told by my father that we were Huguenot, but genealogy is really not my thing) and slowly moved north via Pershore and Worcester, all being barbers and, on the side, farmers and metal workers.

The photographs of Mr Lessen’s shop bring back so many memories. There seems to be a resurgence in “trendy” barbers but the old stalwarts were the real thing.

By: Ros

Ros — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 11:27:10 +0000

What a nice piece about a caring man. The photos are revealing too about the lotions and potions used by barbers in 1977 or thereabouts. It was also interesting to find out more about its author Neil Martinson by clicking on the link. It mentions Centerprise, a dynamic Hackney-based community organisation which was very influential, encouraging creativity and challenging inequality. Although it no longer exists, one of its founders, Ken Worpole whom you have featured before, is still active in a host of ways.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 10:13:35 +0000

Lovely photos. A great man.

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 07:49:11 +0000

Hairdressers seem to be a very special breed of caring people. I enjoyed the report today! Valerie

By: Caroline Bottomley

Caroline Bottomley — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 07:18:04 +0000

Fantastic post, what a lovely insight

By: martin

martin — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 06:08:25 +0000

i feel more manly already!