Blacktown City Independent BCI 38 May 2024 | Page 14

SENIORS

Goodbye , farewell and amen

AVAILABLE

TO SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR TIME OF NEED

Compassionate , Personalised Funeral Services in Sydney

Rely on us to :

• Gently guide you through all planning and arrangements

• Assist in obtaining all necessary certificates and registering documents

• Answer all of your questions

• Carry out your requests

• Be there to provide support through this emotional time

Parting is such sweet sorrow ! Margaret Vincent and valued staff and several long-time clients were on hand to bid farewell as her husband , Robert when he brought down the curtain on his long career as a barber and hairdresser . ( Pictured ( l-r ): Nita Devries ( 50 years a client ), Robert and Margaret Vincent , staff member , Diljil Kaur , Gloria Hammon ( 35 years a client ), staff member of many years , Monika Gibson , and Lila Parker , a client for nearly 40 years . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .

by Greg Martin

I ’ d like a dollar , nay , even just a cent , for the number of haircuts , perms , colours and treatments Robert Vincent has performed during his more than seven decades as a barber-cum hairdresser .

But comes a time in one ’ s life when those barbering and hair-dressing skills must come to an end !

And come to an end it did on Thursday , March 28 , when the 83-year-old closed the door for the last time at his popular Robert Vincent Hair Design business at 6 Campbell Street , Blacktown .

His career in barbering and hairdressing spanned seven decades since he snared an apprenticeship at Jim Lyneham ’ s Barber Shop as a 15-year-old in 1957 .

When Robert was interviewed as a Blacktown ’ s Finest subject back in 2021 , he said , holding up his hands , “ I suppose I ’ ll still be doing it until these can ’ t operate a pair of scissors ”.

But it was his pins that forced him to hang up his shingle .

“ I ’ ve been troubled with leg problems for several years now – I had been able to put up with the discomfort when working on a client but in the end , the legs beat me ,” Robert said .

“ I ’ m going to miss working at my craft but more importantly , the many friendships I have built up over such a long time .

“ You know , in recent years , I have had as customers the children and grandchildren of clients whose hair I cut 60 years ago .”

At various stages throughout his career , Robert owned and operated several shops , all in the Blacktown District , his last and final salon was in Campbell Street which he opened in 2002 .

I asked Bob if anyone was taking over his business .

“ I let it be known that the business could be bought for a very reasonable price but there were no takers ,” he said .

“ In the end , we shut the front door at 3pm on March 28 , and with the help of two of my sons , we emptied the salon of everything , leaving it bare for the next tenant .”

The folk of Blacktown – not just a long , long list of satisfied customers - can be proud of Robert Vincent .

He has served the Blacktown community in a number of roles - longtime and highly respected member of Blacktown Rotary , Blacktown Apex , Blacktown Workers Club and Blacktown Show Society .

Robert and his wife , Margaret , whom he married on March 25 , 1961 , have four children who have provided “ Nanna Marg ” and “ Poppy Bob ” with seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren .

The devoted husband and wife have a holiday place up at Copacabana on the Central Coast and intend splitting their time between there and Bob ’ s beloved Blacktown .

Pre Paid and Pre Arranged Funerals Available

Australian Owned & Operated

( 02 ) 9672 6188 SERVING ALL SUBURBS

www . familyfuneralservices . com . au

You are unique so you need a bespoke in-home support provider that gets to know YOU !

That is what we do best !

• Home Care Packages

• NDIS Support

• Veterans ’ Home Care

• Self-Funded Care

Proudly serving the Hawkesbury , Western Sydney , Hills , Nepean & Blue Mountains since 1995 .

PHONE [phone] www . wendyshome . com . au

14 ISSUE 38 // MAY 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT