Video: Cannon Hairdressing, in Lambley, is believed to be the smallest barbers in Notts.
A man says he feels ‘like a millionaire’ after setting up a barber shop, believed to be the smallest in Nottinghamshire, in his garage.
Tony Sheard, 72, has been a barber for nearly 60 years and used to run Cannon Barbers on Wollaton Street, Nottingham, for 29 years.
But he left at the start of the month due to health reasons and, rather than retiring, he has spent the last three weeks renovating the back of his garage into a barber shop.
And his new business called Cannon Hairdressing, which is based in Trinity Crescent, Lambley, opens tomorrow.
He said: “I enjoy what I do, I never want to retire. I love looking after my clients and more people if they wish to come. I’m not a retirement person – I’d be bored.
“I feel like a millionaire. I’ve got a lovely wife and family, a nice little business and lovely property with a garden. What else does a person want?
“I’ve got the best situation. I can go in the greenhouses, the garden, the lounge, I can have a glass of wine when I want and I’ve got my barber shop. It’s brilliant.”
Tony has been cutting local villagers’ and family members’ hair in his garage on Sundays for 18 years but says the garage was ‘tatty’ until he recently spruced it up.
And with the help of his wife Wendy they have decorated part of the garage into a professional shop.
An electrician has installed professional lighting and Tony’s son-in-law has installed a water heater so the shop is fit-for-purpose for tomorrow’s grand opening.
Tony says the shop is six foot by 11 foot and is believed to be the smallest barbers in Nottinghamshire.
On Wednesday (June 21) Tony opened the shop for one of his grandsons, 16-year-old Harry Hines.
Harry, who also lives in Lambley, says his granddad is a ‘lot happier’ working from home and he can come and visit him at work during the week as he has just finished his GCSEs.
Wendy said: “I’ve helped him out with the decorating and colour schemes and tried to coordinate everything to make it easier for him.
“I just have to watch out for his health to make sure he’s settled and happy and not stressed.”
Tony has cut the hair of former world heavyweight boxer Frank Bruno, comedy double-act Little and Large and actor Danny Hayes.
He says when he was a teenager he was torn between becoming a gardener or a barber – but opted for the latter as he thought gardening would be cold during the winter.
Tony added: “On August 15, 1959, the year Forest won the FA Cup, I started working as a barber and never regretted it.
“I do shaving, I’m going to set a hot towel machine up, we serve espresso coffee. I could still be cutting hair at 80-85 years old.”
