The oldest man in Britain – 110-year-old Erewash war hero Donald Rose – will be looking his best for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, courtesy of the world’s oldest barber.
The Normandy landings veteran was treated to a posh grooming by gentlemen’s hairdresser Truefitt & Hill – which was established in 1805. It sent one of its master barbers 127 miles from London to pamper Donald in his Ilkeston care home.
The upmarket establishment in St James’s is the oldest barbershop on the planet – and was a favourite of Sir Winston Churchill. Oscar Wilde and Alfred Hitchcock got trims there.
The salon was determined to honour Donald after a veterans’ charity got in touch about the ex-Desert Rat who suffered a close shave in 1944 – when he was shot in the leg following D-Day.
Erewash Mayor, Cllr Kate Fennelly was at the Canal Vue Care Home to see master barber Jason Alexandrou tend to Donald. She has close links with The Not Forgotten charity, which fixed up the haircut and shave.
Jason said as he set to work with his scissors and razor: “I’ve had many famous customers but this is a real honour.”
VE Day is on Thursday 8th May. Veterans and officials will be attending 11am services at the Cenotaph in Ilkeston and Long Eaton’s War Memorial – ahead of beacons being lit in both towns at 9.30pm. Crowds will be flocking to Victoria Park for the Ilkeston beacon ceremony. Long Eaton’s will take place outside its town hall. Both events run from 8pm to 10pm and will include brass band music.
Donald has been a regular at remembrance ceremonies and other veterans events in the past. He has been invited to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 8th May for a special VE Day Tea Party and Commemorative Service. If he is fit enough to go he will see it hosted by Baroness Floella Benjamin.
Following his trim and shave, Donald agreed he was looking spruce and said: “Thank you.”
Kate said: “Truefitt & Hill, which was endorsed by Queen Victoria, has served nine reigning monarchs. Charles Dickens gave the barbershop an enthusiastic nod when he wrote about it. Donald still has a full head of hair at the age of 110 – and was delighted to be groomed by the same barbers Frank Sinatra loved to use.”
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