South Yorkshire Times June 14, 1958
Mexborough Barber
Has Retired After 50 Years In Business
A Mexborough barber, Mr Ernest Shirley, of 50, Main Street Mexborough has completed over 50 years in business.
Mr Shirlev been member of the National Federation of Hairdressers all his career, and has been a registered hairdresser since the system of registration was inaugurated.
Owing to serious illness Mr Shirley (65), retired recently and his son, Mr Peter Oswald Shirley has taken over the business.
Mr. Shirley has lived in Mex-borough since he was 15 months old and has been at the business at 50, Main Street, for 46 years.
He started in the trade at the age of 11, when he worked at nights and on Saturdays for 2s, 6d. a week. He left school at 14 to start work with his elder brother, the late Mr. Albert Shirley who was also a hairdresser in West Street, Mexborough.
In 1908 he had his own business at 95. Main Street, Mexborough, and four years later he moved to 50, Main Street. Mr Shirley carried out hairdressing work at Mexborough Montagu hospital for 28 years, from 1910 to 1938
Mr. Shirley’s younger brother Percy was also a barber a he retired in 1947. Mr. Shirley has taken the “South Yorkshire Times” ever since he started in business in 1908.