HAIRDRESSER Tony Winder is celebrating 40 years in the business but he still remembers his first day -- honing cut throat razors wearing women's overalls!

His first job in 1962 was as an apprentice in Les Howarth's barbers in Lower Deardengate, Haslingden.

But since 1969 he has owned his own salon Antony and Patricia, originally set up with his first wife, and over the years he has trained more than 200 apprentices, many of whom have gone on to set up their own successful businesses.

Tony, 55, said: "I joined Les's salon straight from St Ambrose School, now All Saints, and I was impressed when they didn't wear long white coats. Instead there was a dark brown nylon overall.

"But they were too big for me because I am only 5ft tall and so the boss's wife gave me one of her overalls to wear.

"I went home that night not wanting to go back but I was 'advised' to do so by my mother and they agreed to order me a smaller men's version! The other apprentices were taking the mickey, which gave me the confidence to stake my case."

It was three months before Tony got the chance to do a full haircut on a client -- by contrast it is two years before a trainee in his salon reaches that milestone these days.

He said: "We used to do shaving, face massage, hot towel massage and singeing -- burning the ends of men's hair with a taper.

"This was an old fashioned remedy, people thought hair was like a drinking straw and by singeing the ends it sealed the hair and customers would swear blind they never got colds or flu as a result!

"A hair cut was 3s and a singe was 6d -- my first salary was £1. 12s and I worked about 50 hours a week with one day at college in Manchester."

From Haslingden Tony went on to work at the former Ashworth's in Padiham and then spent two years as a barber on cruise ships when he completed five world cruises. In between he also did a couple of seasons as a barber at Butlins in Minehead and Filey.

Antony and Patricia's first salon was in Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall, and three years' later they transferred to Bank Street to the former launderette premises where the salon is still based.

He also spent six months in Australia as manager of a chain of salons when he visited his mother and sister.

Tony was a founder of Rossendale Valley Motorbike Show and is now chairman, as well as a former president of Rawtenstall Chamber of Commerce, a former Conservative councillor on Rossendale Council and a JP for nearly six years.

In his 'twilight' years he hopes to run a bed and breakfast with his second wife Karina and travel.

Tony added: "I have only ever done my mother Nora's hair twice. The first time she didn't like it and the second time it was even worse!"