From beehives and bobs, to 25 different styles of perm, Edward Bolton has trimmed and teased them all.

East Anglian Daily Times: Edward Bolton is approaching his 70th birthday and 36 years of hairdressing in Woodbridge. Old photograph of Edward in his first salon in Diss.Edward Bolton is approaching his 70th birthday and 36 years of hairdressing in Woodbridge. Old photograph of Edward in his first salon in Diss. (Image: Sarah Lucy brown)

Approaching 70, the self-professed ‘Peter Pan’ feels no older than the day he began hairdressing at 18.

He was running his own salon in Diss by 21, despite struggling with dyslexia from an early age, being unable to read or write until 10 and leaving school at 15.

Now a grandfather-of-four and marking his 70th birthday in just over two weeks, he continues to work four days a week at Just Hair, in Woodbridge – the salon he opened in October 1979.

Much has changed in the intervening years – not least the styles in vogue – but Mr Bolton remains in love with his craft and, although entrusting the administrative side of business to youngest daughter, Lydia, has no plans of hanging up his scissors.

He said: “Technology is moving so fast that it takes a younger person to compete.

“I’ll be distancing myself from all that but will still bring my hairdressing flair!”

In the early years, between Diss and Woodbridge, Mr Bolton spent a year honing his skills with John Oliver, in Ipswich.

“Back then, hairdressers promoted progression,” he said. “The look on the street dictated the way styles were going. That’s still true today.

“The likes of John Oliver and I were not your traditional types of hairdresser.

“Together we perfected precision hairdressing – the bob, the graduation, the short and long. They were the cuts we taught students in the first 18 months – and they stand the test of time.”

When not cutting hair, Mr Bolton enjoys restoring classic cars. He still has the E-Type Jaguar he bought for £1,900 aged 25, and recently bought a vintage Volkswagen camper. He also owns the freehold at the Three Horseshoes, in Charsfield.

Mr Bolton adopted Buddhism 10 years ago and believes wellbeing is equal in importance to good health. “I feel like Peter Pan,” he said.

“Hairdressing has given me everything,” he said. “I get as much from it as my clients.”