A heartbroken family have paid tribute to a much loved Wishaw barber who was a cut above the rest for 50 years.
Bill Kirkwood passed away on Monday at the age of 91.
He began his hairdressing career back in 1949 following his National Service stint in the RAF.
Bill helped run John Gray Hairdressers in Hill Street with his uncle John (known as Jack) and finally hung up his scissors and comb in 1999, a few days before the start of the new millennium.
His son Billy spoke to Lanarkshire Live this week.
He said: “Dad was born in Motherwell but moved to Wishaw when his family were born.
“He enjoyed his time in the RAF but when he came back to Wishaw, his uncle Jack gave him a job and that was him.
“Dad was so well known in the town. He was such a character and everybody knew him.”
“When he retired he said that he had carried out almost half a million hair cuts.”
Away from work, Bill married wife Peggy in 1954 and was married for 54 years before her death in 2008.
The couple had two kids - Irene, who carried on the hairdressing business into the new millennium and Billy.
Bill also enjoyed spending time with grand-daughter Anne, who now has two boys, Alfie and Archie.
Bill was a member and regular attender at St Mark’s Church in Coltness, a member of Houldsworth Bowling Club and an enthusiastic Motherwell FC supporter.
He was also keenly involved in Freemasonry and although a member of Lodge Livingstone St Andrew 573 in Motherwell, he regularly attended lodges in Wishaw and Cambusnethan.
Billy added: “Dad loved his music. He liked his country and Scottish music and when he was younger he played the accordion and was in a concert party.
“After my dad retired he took great pleasure in his garden and he had it colourful all year round.
“He was never happier than giving cuttings to others for their own gardens.
“He also loved his holidays in particular travelling to the Canary Islands.”
Billy and the family would also like to thank Kate McIntyre and all of the staff at Netherton Court Care Home, who have been taking care of Bill for the past two and a half years.
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