Wirral Life August 2017 | Page 33

Late 1950’s 1969 Hazel Collinge, photographed here on reception, was responsible for the interior design of the salons, ensuring they were always contemporary, as this fabulous image from the late 1950's perfectly illustrates. It wasn't only in design Hazels influence can be seen in the development of the business as she was also instrumental in the starting up of the Training Division, firstly through the Governments fledging Youth Training Scheme in 1984 and then with the setting up of the stand alone Graduates salons. Her legacy in quality design and delivering training in a modern working environment very much lives on. The opening of St Johns Centre in Liverpool saw the location of a brand new Peter Collinge flagship salon. Architects Paterson Macauley were commissioned and delivered a critically acclaimed salon for the modern era. Note the amount of fashion wigs on display. It was popular at the time to sport an alternative hairstyle for a night out. 1960’s A classic 60’s hairstyle created by Peter Collinge. 1984 1984 Another design classic, the frontage of the first Peter Collinge training salon situated in St Johns Centre. The forerunner to the Graduate salons. 2012 Peter at Buckingham Palace having just received his OBE for services to hairdressing from HRH The Princess Royal. 1994 Peter on the set of the daytime TV show This Morning at the Albert Dock. He created this collection of hair styles to as part of the shows celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE Day. In 1945, at the age of 17, Peter served on board The Mauritania, the Cunard Flagship liner, which had been requisitioned by the Navy as a troop carrier during the war. As a newly qualified hairdresser, he worked in the ships salon, styling the hair of service woman returning home from duty to far flung corners of the Commonwealth. The Mauritania was eventfully restored to its former glory as a luxury transatlantic liner, with Peter continuing to work on board, tending to the demands of the rich and famous as they travelled between New York and Southampton. In 1949, he returned to land and joined his parents salon in West Derby. wirrallife.com 31