A BARBER can lay claim to being a cut above the rest – certainly as far as lengthy service is concerned.
In December 1980, when Marcos Panayi started his business in Caterham, Abba's Super Trouper was number one in the charts and Chelsea and ex-England footballer John Terry was born.
Now coming up to his 32nd year as the owner of Babingtons barbers in Westway, he is still going strong at 66 years old.
A quick bit of arithmetic puts his longevity into astonishing perspective. He estimates to do around 15 haircuts a day. For a five-day-week, 50-week-year, it works out at an amazing 120,000 or so haircuts during his time in Caterham.
"Is that all?" asked the genial owner, when told of this astonishing feat.
Marcos was a teenager growing up in Cyprus when his mother persuaded him to take up an apprenticeship with a local barber – and he has never looked back.
He recalled: "When I first started out I just used hand clippers. There was no electric clippers, hairdryers and styling mousses that you see today."
A massive Arsenal fan, he used to live and work close to the club's former Highbury ground. He said: "I got to cut many Arsenal players' hair back then including former manager Terry Neill and defender Ian Ure.
"And later when I worked in west London, I cut the hair of England player Bobby Charlton and former assistant manager Lawrie McMenemy when the England squad were staying at a hotel in Kensington."
In his early days in Caterham, soldiers from the former barracks in nearby Coulsdon Road were among his customers.
Mr Panayi, who lives above the shop, said: "I still really enjoy meeting my clients, although bending over for so long does give me a bit of back pain.
"I get to meet and chat with so many different customers, many who I've known for years. Two men who have moved away from Caterham still come back here from Eastbourne and Brighton to get their hair cut."
Adrian Bailey, of Ockleys Mead, Godstone, was getting his hair cut by Marcos when the Mirror popped in last week. Mr Bailey said: "My father-in-law has been coming here for 30 years, and I've done so for 25 years, even though I live several miles away.
"Marcos is a really likeable guy who gives a great haircut."
