Well-known barber dies

LONG time barber and a well-known face in the community Victor Doe has died.

Victor, who ran a gentlemans hairdressers Victor Doe, on Norwich Road, Ipswich, died yesterday morning at the age of 91.

He and his wife Peggy have been part and parcel of the life and times of Norwich Road and seen the many changes that have taken place over the years- both pre and post war.

Victor, then an employee at Shelley's the hairdressers on Norwich Road near Coe's, met his wife Peggy, who was working in a rented room behind Newman's the chemists about a mile up the road, in the 1930s. They married and moved to Norwich Road together and then in the 1960s converted their home to a barber's shop.

The couple spoke to The Evening Star in 2003 about their vivid memories of the area.

Norwich Road has always been busy and Victor and Peggy told the Star it was a great day when the Western Bypass was opened. Prior to that, Norwich Road used to be part of the main route to Felixstowe and the heavy lorries going passed used to cause much noise and vibration in the barber's shop.

Victor's customers over the years included a wide range of prominent figures in the community, like Dr Cecil Stadden and his son Dr Ian, and Bishop Leslie.

They also both remembered police sergeant Bristow whose police house was beside the entrance to the old Whitton School, now a private house. Victor said Sgt Bristow was always in action, pedalling up and down Norwich Road and keeping an eye on things before 1929 ands until after the second world war.

Victor said at the time[of the interview]: “I know he was still there at the end of the war in 1946 because I remember telephoning him when I arrived back at Ipswich railway station after demobilisation so that he could let Peggy know I was safely back.”

Victor retired when he was 50 yet the couple remained living above the shop.

n. What are your memories of Victor? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.