Short Back And Sides.
It always seemed to be winter when I had my hair cut, those ice cold clippers up the back of the neck. The barber I went to was opposite Bacons School in Grange Road.
I can't remember the name of the Barber, always had a fag hanging from the corner of his mouth. He would clear the ash from it by blowing through his lips, the ash would go everywhere including the top of our head's.
I HATED! having my hair cut, it was the classic Short Back And Sides Going in with a good old mop of hair keeping one's head nice and warm, and coming out almost bald. As I said it always seemed to be winter, and going out into Grange Road with an icy blast from the north, straight from the Artic, I REALLY HATED IT!!!
Did anyone else have their hair cut there, perhaps we sat next to each other. It was almost as bad as waiting to get the cane.
Rod.
Yes I remember going there, the fags, the people waiting for there turn.
He would put a board across the arms of the chair for me to sit on, as us kids were too short and the chair was not ajustable at least not to suit us.
I'm sure it had a funny sounding name like Menditters? but not sure, maybe someone will know?
I hated it to, especially when my mates spotted me, always caused a laugh.
Bermondseyboy
Certainly was Mendetta's in the 1960s (I'm not sure about the spelling) .. he was happy to provide us mid teenagers with 'something for the weekend'
.
I remember it as Mendittens - and sitting on the board over the chair, used to hate getting a hair cut, always too short!
Thank you all for that. It's funny when you start to ponder things like places names, draging up names from deep inside the old memory. They are all very similar, and yes the board across the arms of the chair.
I need my haircut, so I shall be thinking of The Short Back and Sides and makeing sure I don't ask for one by mistake.
The Barber certainly was Alfie Mendetta,i think his wife Marjie used to work there as well.He was a very tall man but had really bad facial skin,with weepy sores.He was in fact an Ex-Army "Barber",which explains the Short Back and Sides....He lived almost opposite us in Major Road,and had a Big Red Indian motorcycle combination.His Son Teddy was a few years younger than myself,and as we all Bought Triumph Motor cycles as soon as we came out of the Army,he and his dad(Alfie)went to Pride and Clarkes(Otherwise known as Snide and Shark) and Bought a 1950 Sprung Hub T100.Which Alfie taught him to ride up and down Major road,with several trips ending in disaster.That was in the days when there was some Freedom in this country ..And you could ride your bike without looking like Robocop. LOL Bill.K.
Alfie Mendetta, so thats it then. I do remember him being tall, and the bad skin ( I did'nt like to mention it in case it caused offence ) Ex- Army Barber, that does explain all those nearly bald Bermondsey boys.
I sometimes went to Pride and Clarks with my brother, but I never bought a bike from them.My first bike was a 250 BSA, then a 350 Matchless and my last one Velocette Venom,
Good to here all that from you bilko, is it sgt Bilko.
Thanks Rod.
