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Daily Record
23 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Stirling family celebrates 60 years in hair and beauty business
Frances Hunter Hair and Beauty has been providing haircuts and colours to clients across Central Scotland since 1965 - with the team saying the salon has "never been busier". The team at an award-winning city centre hair salon are celebrating the family firm's 60th anniversary. Frances Hunter Hair and Beauty, based in Stirling's Port Street, is steeped in family history and has been providing haircuts and colours to clients across Central Scotland since 1965. The first salon was opened in Alloa by Frances Hunter and her husband Eddie who were pioneers of the hair and beauty industry in the area from the early sixties. Eddie insisted on calling the initial Greenfield Street shop after his wife and the couple soon expanded the business opening additional salons in Clackmannan and Stirling's Barnton Street – all named after Frances. They opened a salon in Port Street in 1971 and when Eddie died in 1985 at the age of just 47, Frances threw herself into work seeing the business go from strength to strength and building up a loyal clientele – many of whom still visit the salon today. Her children Gary – who also celebrates his 60th birthday this year – and Leslie joined the family business as teenagers and are now award-winning stylists who run Frances Hunter Hair and Beauty along with Gary's wife Allaine who works in reception and administration. Meanwhile, hairdressing icon Frances never really retired and was a regular visitor who enjoyed popping into the salon and chatting to clients until her death last year at the age of 81. Leslie says: 'We're so proud of our history and what our parents achieved and are delighted to be celebrating our 60th anniversary this year along with our loyal clients. 'The salon has never been busier.' Frances started work in the hair industry when she was 17 initially working for a salon run by a hairdresser named Jean Frews where she quickly gained an excellent reputation and a growing list of clients. Gary says: 'Our dad Eddie was 21 at the time and working as a van driver so mum taught him how to cut hair because she was so busy with her clients and needed his help. 'Her client list was growing through word of mouth so she trained dad up and they opened their first salon in Greenfield Street, Alloa in 1965 and began working together.' Gary and Leslie became involved in the family business once they were old enough to help out. 'After school we went to the salon and gave my mum and dad a hand,' Gary says. 'We were working on the tills, getting coffee for clients and there was no doubt in my mind about what I was going to do when I left school. 'I was destined to be a hairdresser – the whole family were. It was ingrained in our DNA.' Frances and Eddie proved to be real pioneers and innovators in the hair and beauty industry bringing new techniques, experience and knowledge to the area and investing in training for themselves and their staff. 'Eddie even spent time working under legendary hair stylist Vidal Sassoon in London where he learned all the latest styles and methods. Gary says: 'Both our parents had a great work ethic and were really ahead of their time. It was dad who brought cut and blow dries to Stirling in the early 70s – something mum said would never catch on! It was all shampoos and sets back in the day until our parents brought in new ideas and techniques.' Gary and Leslie have both inherited their parents' work ethic and love of learning and clearly thrive on continuing the family legacy. Leslie, who was named Best Female Stylist at the 2024 Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards (SHABA), says: 'We've been in the business all our lives and we love it and enjoy spending time with clients and seeing them coming in and enjoying the whole experience. 'We have clients going back years who used to be mum and dads' clients and they still come to us which is wonderful.' Meanwhile, Gary's son Samuel is also following in his family's footsteps – he works in the salon and won Best Male Colourist at last year's SHABA Awards. Gary says: 'He was also a finalist in the Wella Professionals TrendVision Awards last year in London which is massive for someone who is only 24. 'He's been here for 18 months now and is a talented colourist already – a real natural. We've taught him what we know and it's all about education and training for us.' Over the years, the number of shops run by the Hunters has gradually reduced and the family now concentrate on running the flagship Port Street salon after closing the Alloa salon last year. The Port Street salon was originally in a smaller building, above the shop which is now Ginger Roots, before Gary and Leslie created a new purpose-built salon in the current location which opened in 2006 and the salon also offers beauty therapy upstairs. The team are celebrating the 60th anniversary across the whole of 2025 with promotions, events and offers available each month. They have also created a 60th anniversary logo and 'Happy Birthday Frances Hunter' has been stencilled into the salon window. Allaine says: 'We're excited to share and celebrate our legacy and our clients and are also asking people to share their photos and memories of the Frances Hunter salons over the years and tag us in.'
Leader Live
25 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba denies reports of resignation amid pressure
Mr Ishiba has been under growing pressure to step down as his ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, lost their majority in the 248-member upper house, the smaller and less powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament on Sunday, shaking his grip on power and Japan's political stability. The loss means Mr Ishiba's ruling coalition, which also lost a majority in the more powerful lower house in October, now lacks a majority in both houses of parliament, making it even more difficult for his government to achieve any policy goals and worsening Japan's political instability. Mr Ishiba had announced his intention to stay on to tackle pressing challenges, including tariff talks with the US, without creating a political vacuum, sparking calls from inside and outside his own party for a quick resignation to respond to the election results. With the tariff deal with the US paving the way for his possible departure, Japanese media said he is expected to soon announce plans to step down in August. The Yomiuri newspaper, in an extra edition on Wednesday, said Mr Ishiba had decided to announce his resignation by the end of July after receiving a detailed report from his chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, paving the way for a party leadership vote to choose his successor. Mr Ishiba denied the report and said he wants to focus on the US trade deal, which covers more than 4,000 goods affecting many Japanese producers and industries. The Prime Minister, who met party heavyweights and former prime ministers Taro Aso, Fumio Kishida and Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday at party headquarters, told reporters afterwards that they did not discuss his resignation or a new party leadership contest. They only discussed the election results, shared the sense of crisis and confirmed the need to avoid party discord, he said. Mr Ishiba welcomed the trade agreement on Wednesday, which places a 15% tax on Japanese cars and other goods imported into the US from Japan, down from the initial 25%. He said it was a product of tough negotiations to protect the national interest and that it would help benefit both sides as they work together to create more jobs and investment. But Mr Ishiba declined to comment on his possible move and only told reporters that he has to closely examine the trade deal first. In Sunday's election, voters frustrated with price increases exceeding the pace of wage hikes, especially younger people who have long felt ignored by the ruling government's focus on senior voters, rapidly turned to emerging conservative and right-wing populist parties, like the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito. None of the opposition parties have shown interest in forming a full-fledged alliance with the governing coalition but they have said they are open to cooperating on policy.
Evening Standard
25 minutes ago
- Evening Standard
Evri cashes in on second-hand boom with record number of deliveries
It has previously highlighted an improvement in its ratings over recent years but said there was 'more to do' to improve with some customers continuing to report delivery issues.
