Gavin Ashley, owner of Bury St Edmunds hair salon, retires from hairdressing after 56 years in the trade

A Bury St Edmunds hairdresser and salon owner has packed up his scissors for good as he announces his retirement from the industry after 56 years.

Gavin Ashley Downes, who owns Gavin Ashley in Kings Road, decided to retire from hairdressing last month after his birthday, but will still be found behind the scenes in the business he set up 45 years ago in the town.

The decision to retire was not an easy one for the 73-year-old who said he has been in the service industry from a young age, having grown up in a publican family.

“It’s difficult. I’ve been in the service industry since the day I was born – my parents ran pubs. I didn’t know anything different. At the age of 13 I was helping my parents in the pub, not really knowing that I was listening to how to deal with customers.

“The only time I’ve experienced something like this before was through Covid.”

Mr Downes didn’t originally plan to be a hairdresser, but instead thought he would help out at his parents’ pub in Boxford. When his dad told him to find a job in 1967, Mr Downes had to think on his feet.

“I hitch-hiked to Colchester where I went to school and there were only two jobs going. One was a ladies hairdresser and one was a gents hairdresser. I got offered both and I decided to take the ladies job – much to my father’s disgust.”

He started off as an apprentice at one of Raymond Bessone’s salons in Colchester. Raymond, who was also known as Mr Teasy-Weasy, was the UK’s first celebrity hairdresser.

From there he moved on to an international hairdressing company which had 1,600 salons across the globe, where he stayed for five years.

Whilst on holiday with his parents in Spain, he met a family friend, who suggested he set up his own business.

Much like hairdressing, owning a business hadn’t been on the cards to begin with.

In 1978, he opened his salon in Churchgate Street when he was just shy of 28 on July 4 – American Independence Day.

“It scared me quite a bit, owning a business. I took the experience I had from the national and international companies I had worked for and grew my business. I wanted to replicate what they did.”

After 45 years, Mr Downes is incredibly proud of what he and his team have built over the years.

“We still have a phenomenal business, a phenomenal team and we’ve had fantastic teams over the years but the most important one is the one we have at the moment,” he added.

“We’re proud of the consistency. We’re proud that after 45 years, we still have a busy salon and we still have those high standards.”

And a celebrity even worked at the salon, before their fame. Chef Andi Oliver, who is seen on shows such as The Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen Live, worked as Mr Downes’ junior in 1981.

Whilst running the salon, Mr Downes was also chairman of the National Hairdressing Federation for the Eastern area, he did lecturing and also fund-raised for charities.

Since, the business moved from Churchgate Street a year ago, the salon continues to go from strength to strength. Gavin’s wife Tonia and the management team will continue the successful running of the business on a daily basis.

He credits Tonia as being a constant in the business for the past 30 years.

He would also like to thank his staff over the years and both his own and the salon’s loyal customers.