Austin James. hairdresser, Lydney

My cousin and I remember having our hair cut during the 1950s at a gents' salon in Lydney run by a redoubtable Welshman called Austin James.

I was made to have my hair cut there when down from London at my grandparents' in school holidays because he charged about half London prices (ten old pence for a boy's short back and sides, I think was all he wanted.) To the vast amusement of all assembled, Mr James would denounce my hair as having plainly last been cut at vast expense with a knife and fork, but he sticks in my mind as having been a kindly man.

I have only found one current trace of him. It is by way of what looks to have been his marriage in the parish records on this site: Austin Sidney James, hairdresser, of The Institute, Lydney, married Elizabeth Ellen Howell, of Milrough, Forest Road, Lydney, on 14 Jul 1942.

I have often wondered what became of this congenial barber, there being no trace of a salon in his name these days. Does anyone know?

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My cousin and I remember having our hair cut during the 1950s at a gents' salon in Lydney run by a redoubtable Welshman called Austin James.

I was made to have my hair cut there when down from London at my grandparents' in school holidays because he charged about half London prices (ten old pence for a boy's short back and sides, I think was all he wanted.) To the vast amusement of all assembled, Mr James would denounce my hair as having plainly last been cut at vast expense with a knife and fork, but he sticks in my mind as having been a kindly man.

I have only found one current trace of him. It is by way of what looks to have been his marriage in the parish records on this site: Austin Sidney James, hairdresser, of The Institute, Lydney, married Elizabeth Ellen Howell, of Milrough, Forest Road, Lydney, on 14 Jul 1942.

I have often wondered what became of this congenial barber, there being no trace of a salon in his name these days. Does anyone know?

1901
Walter Watkins abt 1862 Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Alice Watkins abt 1866 Taunton, Somerset, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Albert J Watkins abt 1886 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ethel M Watkins abt 1895 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Walter W Watkins abt 1898 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean,

1911 Blakeney Hill Near Newnham, Glos
Walter Watkins 49
Alice Watkins 45
Ethel Minne Watkins 16
Walter Winford Watkins 13
Harriet House 75

1911 Old Croft Nr Blakeney Gloucestershire
Thomas James 45
Sarah Jane James 47
George John James 22
Sydney Wm James 18
Lilian James 15
Alfred Frank James 13
Edith May James 10
Thos Henry James

Name: Sydney W James
Spouse:Ethel W Watkins
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1920
Registration district: Westbury on Severn
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 487

JAMES Sydney William
WATKINS Ethel Winnie
Forest of Dean Viney Hill All Saints
1920 1 395

Year: 1920
Month: Feb
Day: 7
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: Sydney William
Grooms_Age: 27
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Viney Hill
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: WATKINS
Brides_Forenames: Ethel Winnie
Brides_Age: 25
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Blakeney Hill
Brides_Fathers_Surname: WATKINS
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Walter
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Hosier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: George John James
Witness_2: Dorothy Kate Bray
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Arthur C Gabell
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 198
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

Name: Austin S James
Mother's Maiden Surname: Watkins
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1921
Registration district: Westbury S.
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 491

Year: 1942
Month: Jul
Day: 14
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: Austin Sidney
Grooms_Age: 21
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Hairdresser
Grooms_Residence: The Institute
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Sidney
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Caretaker
Brides_Surname: HOWELL
Brides_Forenames: Elizabeth Ellen
Brides_Age: 24
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Milrough Forest Road
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Howell
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Henry
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Mason (decd)
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: Thomas Henry Howell
Witness_2: Leonard Alfred James
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: L P Jones Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P209 IN 1/20
Page_Number: 90
Parish_Chapel: Lydney

Name: Austin Sydney James
Birth Date: 3 Jan 1921
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1980
Age at Death: 59
Registration district: Forest of Dean
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 22
Page: 1968

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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Thanks, Slowhands. I continue to marvel at your prompt delivery of data, and regret to learn that Austin James died all too soon.

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Hi peter,I remember a hairdresser in Lydney, i think it was in regent st just off Newerne st. I would not swear to it but i think it was the shop now called sports world???.In those days he used a hand mechanical cutter which occasionally pulled your hair with it and his name was James i think. Ivan

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I'm pretty sure it was Regent St or thereabouts, Ivan. It wasn't far from the end of Forest Road, but I couldn't swear to it having been on the same site as the sports shop. My cousin and I were regulars at Austin James, and the only other two gents' hairdressers in Lydney in that era to the best of our recollection were affectionately known as "Sniffy" Lewis and "Slasher" Evans. I don't know their first names.

Again from recollection, Austin only performed one operation: short back and sides followed by a dollop of Brylcreem, but he would always ask after us kids and the family if he was passing in the street. That's the sort of thing that made me love being in Lydney rather than back home in London - people had time for people and it was difficult to be anonymous. I don't remember having any tufts pulled out by accident, but I was in such a hurry to escape from the joviality about expensive London cuts that I probably wouldn't have noticed.

I don't recall what effect it may have had on Austin's trade in his latter years, but eventually "Sniffy" retired and was replaced by the newer sort of gents' hairdresser who attracted the lads by wanting to know whether you were after a Boston, a tapered or squared-off neck, crew cut, college cut, razor cut, bob, shampoo and all that palaver, but Austin's modest repertoire meant he still knew what was good for both him and you if he knew your dad had been in the Army and your "Grampy" had been in the police!

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Hi Peter, Thanks for reply. I remember the shop, turning left in Newerne st into regent street and about 50 yards on the left you entered the the front door turned left and you were looking at the seat in front of the mirror with seats on sides to await your turn the room was very small about 15x10 feet,he was always busy and anyone with lice/bugs he sent out with a reprimand,i`m pretty sure that was the shop, perhaps someone else can verify. i also remember the local doctor Bramble he had his surgery just around the corner. Ivan

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Sure, that's the one, and Dr Brambell's brother was the actor Wilfred Brambell who played Steptoe Senior.

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Hi Peter again, I also noted that he was a beneficiary to Walter Watkins Will in 1932.

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So I now see, Ivan. Interesting because my recollection is that he was Welsh, (I won't say "rank Welsh" as my grandmother used to!) but now we have his grandfather dying at Blakeney.

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Austin James. hairdresser, Lydney (General)

Austin S JAMES.1921 -1980, Lydney

Austin S JAMES.1921 -1980, Lydney