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THE STRIPEY POLE
 The stripey pole outside the Village Barbers in Ickenham reminds us of times past, when barbers would not only cut your hair but also remove a tooth and perform any surgery you might have a need for. Fortunately those times are long gone: Karen Coombes and her staff now confine themselves to enhancing the hair on the heads of men and boys and selling a range of hair styling products.
The men’s hairdresser has been in the same place, almost opposite Rectory Way, since the fifties. Karen has worked there since 1989 and bought the business from previous owner Ron when he retired five years later. Today she and her six staff run the shop from Tuesday to Saturday, opening late on Fridays and offering reduced prices for seniors on Tuesday – Thursday mornings.
Men’s hairdressing has been Karen’s only occupation since her two years’ study at the London College of Fashion. She started work in Harrow where she met Tracy and Liza, two colleagues who later joined her at Ickenham, where they now work alongside Jane, Dionne, and two others, both called Adriana.
Karen and her colleagues place great value on their regular contact with customers. “We get to know whole families over time. First, a young man attends, then he gets married, starts a family and the mum brings the son for his first haircut and so on”, says Karen. “The salon is also a meeting place for some of the older men and occasionally for a few mums, accompanying their young sons, (who get lollipops if they are good)”.
The friendly contact extends to the community - the Village Barbers are keen supporters of the Ickenham Festival, achieving a Highly Commended Award in this year’s Festival window-dressing competition.
The stylists do get some odd requests at times, but are too discreet to reveal these confidences. They did tell us though, of one elderly gent who always asked for his eyelashes to be permed! Barber’s chair conversation varies with the particular customer: some share their problems; others discuss the tricks of their own trades, so imparting a fund of knowledge to Karen and the girls. “We also perform miracles”, said Jane. “Often they come in leaning heavily on a walking stick and then, after the haircut, walk away without it!”
MAKE-A-WISH SUCCESS
 The URC Junior Church took charge of a very successful Coffee Morning in the Hardwick Room on 2nd October, raising £77.50 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity which arranges for children with terminal illnesses to be granted the wish of their dreams.
And the boys did a great job of the washing up!
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