Express & Star

Tears flow after Mick the barber retires after 44 years

Grown men were reduced to tears when a popular barber hung up his scissors.

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Much-loved Mick Booth, aged 65, has called time on his long established business which has been running in Lye High Street for the last 44 years.

Mick, of Wordsley, set up the business after becoming fed up with working for other people.

He decided, along with his wife and business co-owner Carol, to close the shop after its lease came to an end.

Mick and Carol Booth at Lye Festival raising money for charity

Mick has cut the hair of thousands of people over the years, making legions of friends and lots of them popped in to wish him well in the future before he shut up shop.

Such is his popularity, he has bumped into clients in Florida and Kenya before, and a few big burly blokes couldn't help but shed a tear as he finally finished.

"It's strange, it hasn't really sunk in yet. It's mixed emotions, it doesn't feel like I've finished forever.

Many of my customers have become good friends, it's amazing the way they stand by you," he said.

"I've always been a barber, I did my apprenticeship when I finished school and worked in a couple of salons before starting up on my own.

"It's extremely sad, it's the end of an era, but I've taken a lot away from it. It's been an experience.

"I think the secret is that no matter who comes through the door, you treat them exactly the same.

"And if they want a style you don't necessarily like, you give the customer what they want."

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