MEET Carlisle salon owner Barry Ferguson, who has been cutting hair for 55 years. 

Barry Ferguson owns Carlisle's Abbey Court Hairdressers on Paternoster Row and began cutting hair in the city in 1969, the same year that man first stepped foot on the moon.

55 years later, Barry is still going strong and has cut hair through the tenures of 13 different prime ministers and 10 presidents of the United States. 

Barry's journey into the world of hairdressing started after he was inspired by legendary hairstylist Vidal Sassoon, with his father purchasing and converting the salon into the design it has had ever since it opened at the end of the Swinging Sixties.

"I have always loved hairdressing but it is an ever-evolving business and you have got to keep moving with the times," Barry said.

"Although, I have never really altered my salon since the day I moved in. I remember my dad saying when we first altered it, 'We will do it once and never again', and now it is classed as retro.

"We have got customers who enjoy a good traditional haircut. We just try to give good quality service and give them a hairstyle that suits them.

"We don't do anything sky high like these footballers... we do traditional stylings and I have kept that going all the time."

Since 1969, Barry has cut the hair of several generations in Carlisle and has had a 'solid' base of customers who have supported his traditional salon for decades.

He said: "It is tremendous. I have seen people come in and then turn into mam and dads and their kids follow on.

"I must admit I have had a solid bunch of customers, they have supported me through the thick and thin... and we have been through the thick and thin. The miner's strikes, and then there was the Covid carry on, all kinds of different tragedies that have affected the country and its shops, and we have been through it all.

"There was a lass came in the other week with her pal who was getting her hair cut and she said: 'I used to come here years ago, I wonder if the original owner is still here?' and I said: 'You're talking to him'."