Grandad's back in business - becky's story

Back in the spring, Daniel Galvin invited in BBC television cameras into the salon for a month to film a one-off documentary. ‘Grandad’s Back in Business’ saw Raymond, who had 45 years’ experience in the hair industry, go head-to-head with Becky, who’d just started out, for a job in Daniel Galvin’s exclusive London salon. The programme showed the difficulties that older people face when they try to get back into the workplace – particularly in a young, vibrant industry like the hair industry.But while the cameras and the British public wanted sweet, endearing Raymond to be given the job, it was Becky who was given her chance.We at HJi aren’t ashamed to admit that we were among the majority rooting for Raymond, but nevertheless we felt it was high-time we caught up with Becky to see how she is getting on.

Camera Shy

From the start, it was clear that she’d been scarred by her media experience and she looked terrified of what I might ask. So for fear of adding to her media phobia, I broached the subject of why she’d looked so uptight and miserable throughout the programme with care. “I was really uncomfortable having the cameras around me the whole time,” she explains. “I would be messing about, and having a laugh with the other members of staff and then they’d want to film me and I’d find it really hard to smile and recreate the moment.“When I did do something the producers liked, they wouldn’t have got the shot they wanted or the sound or lighting would be wrong and I’d have to do it all over again. After a while that gets really irritating. “And it wasn’t like the cameras were just with me for a few hours, they’d be with me on the train at 6 o’ clock in the morning and they’d still be there when I went home late at night. “The whole thing was completely exhausting.”

Going Head-to-Head

Spending a complete month in direct competition with someone was never going to be a recipe for friendship. And Becky admits that there was no deep bonding between the pair. She adds: “I didn’t spend much time with Raymond because I was doing my training and he was doing his, so I didn’t really get to know him. “He seemed like a nice man and I know he got on with everyone else well enough. “He was prone to tantrums, though, and it seemed like the documentary played up the fact that I was moody and didn’t smile, but didn’t show that side of him at all. “He wasn’t happy when they chose me for the job, but I wouldn’t have been happy if they’d gone for him either.”After a month of intense training, including learning the right way to wash and blow-dry, creating an up-do, art-directing a photo shoot and taking part in a stage presentation, it came down to decision day. Becky had the talent, although her attitude kept coming into question, and Raymond was great at bonding with the clients, but found it difficult to shake off forty years of bad habits. And it wasn’t just the audience who were left guessing who’d be given the job until the last minute.“It was a big surprise when they chose me,” admits Becky. “I knew that we both had our good points and our bad points and it really could have gone either way. ““I’m so glad they did choose me because I can’t imagine not working here now. As soon as I arrive here I knew that this is what I wanted to do and if they had chosen Raymond I would definitely have applied for other London salons.”

Look To The Future

It’s now been seven months since Becky was given her dream job. In that time she’s gone from a sulky teenager to a personable, if slightly shy young lady and it’s clear she’s grabbed her opportunity with both hands. “I’m loving it here. The salon is so big and busy and there are celebrity clients coming in all the time, so it’s just a real buzz. “I’m working as a stylist and do training twice a week, which I really look forward to. I just feel massively privileged to be trained by Joshua Galvin. “I will qualify here, which will take two-and-a-half years, and then I need to get more experience at cutting hair. “In the future, I’d like to do stage work and shows and I can certainly see myself staying here for a very long time.”

Daniel Galvin Says...

“We choose Becky based on pure skill and hairdressing ability, a difficult decision and I suppose we had to go with are heads and not our hearts. It is too soon to tell if we made the right decision, but so far so good…”

Raymond Says...

"I still go to the Daniel Galvin salon two evenings a week for training and I'm still enjoying the experience. Unortunately I'm yet to get a full-time job, but I have had a trial at one salon on the back of the programme and I am heading back there next week. There is also another trial in the pipeline so it does look promising. I have also been doing some mobile hairdressing and I've even done a bride's hair who contacted Daniel Galvin because she liked what I did on the programme. All in all, I have had more positives than negatives I just hope I can get a permanant position off the back of it."

If you'd like to get in contact with Raymond, you can do so, be email or by calling 07956409772.picture courtesty of the BBC