AFTER almost 45 years of cutting hair in Lye, ‘Mick the Barber’ Booth is putting his clippers down for the last time.

The well-loved barber, who turned 65 in December, has called time on his long established business, which has been running in the High Street for the past 40 years.

“I shall miss every bit of it,” Mick told the News. “I have met thousands of interesting people and characters in the years I have been here.

“There’s been so many good times. I love the ‘rapport’ I have with the customers, many of whom I have been cutting the hair of since they were born!

“You get so close to people, as they tell their barber everything, and we have people coming from all over the area just to get their hair cut.”

Mick and his wife Carol, who co-owns the business, will close the doors for the final time on May 28, after making the decision to close the shop back in October as their lease was coming to an end.

Stourbridge News:

Mick and Carol Booth raising money for charity at Lye Festival back in the salon’s early days

He said: “Originally I set it up because I got fed up of working for other people. I had a number of customers who would come into where I was working and would only let me cut their hair.

“I found some money to have the shop and I only expected to trade there for about 12 months, but we got so popular that I couldn’t stop. It’s the only thing I’m any good at!”

Carol added: “Everyone knows my husband. We have been all over the world – to Disneyworld in Florida and even on a safari in Kenya – and always seem to bump into people who are or have been customers.

“But nobody knows my name. I’ve been referred to as ‘Mick’s wife’ for so long now that I’ve just got used to it.”

Stourbridge News:

Mick’s fandom even spread into Iraq after three British soldiers created their own ‘Mick’s Salon Iraq’ sign

Many customers will be sad to see Mick leave the High Street, but he has agreed to do home visits for some of his regular customers.

He said: “Even though the sign has been up since October, one of our customers who is about 40 and has been coming to get his hair cut by me all of his life, only read it earlier this week.

“He actually broke into tears and said he doesn’t know what he’s going to do now about getting his hair cut! It’s only through times like that that you see the impact you have had on people.

Stourbridge News:

‘Mrs Lavender’ stood outside 215 High Street in Lye which was to become Mick’s hairdressing salon

“But I have a list where my regular customers can sign up and once a month I will be going round to their houses to keep cutting their hair.

“We are so grateful for the hundreds of customers who have kept coming back to us time after time and I have to thank all of the customers, who have been a pleasure to know and I have made many friends which I will have for life.

“I must admit, I’ve had a fantastic 40 years."