The CCB -2- Captured on Film. by Snipped Sam

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It was two weeks or so later when I saw Mr Smith again at the historical society meeting. He was his usual friendly self although I felt awkward having been discourteous and outspoken about my haircut.

"I meant to ask you if your haircut met with your father’s approval."

"He was very impressed Mr Smith."

"I’m very pleased to hear it."

At this point Mr Greville who was the president of the historical society came over.

I expect you are sharing your memories of the coronation with young Julian."

"We were actually talking about his last haircut; he was telling me that his father was pleased with what I had done."

"Not surprised, you’ve got a good barber there Julian."

"Yes Sir."

"You’ve given me an idea, as you know we are making a short informative film about the historical society, we could include our youngest member having his hair cut by one of our longest members. It could be like a Pathe film with words like…And while the scissors snip Julian and his barber have plenty of historical society topics to talk about."

Mr Greville seemed very pleased with his idea and Mr Smith was smiling at the notion.

"What do you think Julian? Would you like to be in the film with Mr Smith?"

"Would my hair actually be cut?"

"Oh, I think so, after all we want it to look authentic."

"Mr Greville is right Julian, it’s got to look like its real, so my scissors would make contact."

"And your hair will drop."

"It’s a win-win for you Julian, you get to be in the film and a free haircut."

Mr Smith said enthusiastically, and I realised that this was his chance to really establish himself as my barber, and Mr Greville was keen to get things all settled.

"So shall we say yes Julian?"

"I think so Sir."

"I’ll make the arrangements and let you both know."

Mr Greville left, and I noticed that Mr Smith seemed rather pleased.

"It goes without saying, that this time there can be no repeat of the discourteous remarks which you made during your last haircut."

"I know and I am very sorry about that Sir."

"So, you should be young man, but this time I will let it go."

I heard a few days later that they were going to film at Mr Smith’s barber shop on a Sunday morning in two weeks.
The day of filming at Mr Smith’s barber shop soon came around, and it had been suggested by Mr Greville that I wore my school uniform. We all had to be there at nine thirty and I arrived to find Mr Smith already there wearing his long navy-blue barber’s coat. There were two men from the society, one who was filming and one who was clearly directing. Then Mr Greville arrived.Mr Wilcox who was directing, told us that we would just have a quick rehearsal.

"So, Julian…you will walk to the barber's chair and sit down. Reg you will say… How are you Julian?…You will reply… Fine thanks Mr Smith…Reg you will be fitting the cape while talking to him. So, let’s do a run through and if you are holding the cape ready for when he gets to the chair."

I was told to remove my blazer, and then Mr Wilcox then counted us down, and I walked to the chair and sat down and we said our words.

"Very good Reg…not bad Julian…but you need to look happier…you’re pleased to see Mr Smith…you get on well and you are pleased to be getting a haircut…now let’s try it again."

So, Mr Smith took the cape back off me and I had to step from the chair and start again, I walked to the chair and sat down, making sure I smiled and we said the words as Mr Smith prepared me for my haircut.

"That’s better, now I assume you would start combing his hair and ask him what he is having done…I take it you will be cutting his hair short."

"I certainly will Geoff."

"Then Julian you will say nice and short please…would he call you Sir?"

"I do get called Sir occasionally…so why not."

"Right let’s try it."

Mr Smith started combing my hair and then said the words:

"What’s it to be today, Julian?"

"Nice and short please, Sir."

"Jolly good."

"Then you will start to cut his hair, and after a couple of snips start to talk about the historical society. You will ask him if he enjoyed the last meeting and then talk about the next one. Julian, you need to look enthusiastic about the conversation, and not be paying too much attention to what Mr Smith is doing to your hair."

"I’ll be standing here with the camera so don’t try to look in the direction of the camera, especially you Julian, focus on the conversation with Mr Smith."

Mr Turner advised us.

So, we will film the start of the haircut, then when you’ve finished it Reg, we will film the end.

"Sounds good to me."

"Right let’s film it."

So once again I left the chair and went over the waiting area.

"Lights, Camera, Action."

Mr Wilcox bellowed, and nervously I walked to the chair, with three historical society members present plus of course Mr Smith, I felt very self-conscious. I reached the chair and sat down.

"How are you today, Julian?"

"Fine thanks Mr Smith."

I could hear the camera running as he fitted the cape and towel around my shoulders. He took the comb from his top pocket and asked me.

"What’s it to be today Julian?"

"Nice and short please, Sir."

"Jolly good."

He then picked up the scissors and started cutting my hair, and we started talking about the historical society. Mr Smith took the lead, and as he snipped away, I tried to look enthusiastic and did my best not to notice how short he was cutting my hair. Mr Greville was watching from the waiting area, whilst Mr Turner stood close by with the camera, Mr Smith was being super nice to me. After all this was also free advertising for his barber shop. After a few minutes, Mr Wilcox said that was enough filming for now. They settled down and stood there chatting.

"So, what’s the finished haircut going to be Reg?"

Mr Turner enquired, and Mr Smith informed him that I was getting a traditional short back and sides with Brylcreem.

"Well, I guess some boys still have their hair short."

"This one does, Stan."

Mr Smith replied emphatically to Mr Turner’s question.

"And what have you got to say on the subject Julian?"

I had to quickly think of the right answer, as I wanted to make a good impression especially with Mr Greville the president sitting there.

"Well, I have my hair short Mr Turner, and Mr Smith knows what needs to be done."

"You wouldn’t like it longer like a lot of boys your age, have it?"

It was clear with his longish hair that Mr Turner didn’t go to Mr Smith for his haircut, with his hair over his collar and thick sideburns. But I was aware needed to keep Mr Smith happy, I sensed that this was not going to be my last time in his chair.

"It’s not an option for me, so it’s not something I think about it."

"Well said Julian."

Mr Greville added to the conversation, and as my haircut continued, I heard Mr Greville say to Mr Wilcox what a great job Reg was doing.

"I’m about to do the clipping, if you want to film me in action."

"That would be a good idea Reg, if you could just talk us through it, before we film."

Mr Wilcox replied, and I was filled with dread, it was bad enough to get another clipping, but with Mr Turner filming and Mr Wilcox directing it was even worse.

"So, I take the clippers’ then I bend his head down, and then I clip."

He said as he did exactly that, ensuring that he pushed my head right down.

"Perfect Reg, I think though Julian you could look as little less peeved."

"But maybe Julian doesn’t like this bit of the haircut."

Mr Turner suggested to Mr Wilcox.

"I’m not too concerned what he likes Stan, we need to try and get this right. Julian perhaps you should look serious but not peevish, remember the aim is to show that you like coming to Mr Smith to have your haircuts."

"Mr Wilcox is right Julian; we have been having a nice conversation about the historical society."

"I know what you want me to do."

"Shall we try it again?"

Mr Smith suggested, having already put his clippers back. Mr Wilcox said yes, and so once again took the clippers off the hook, and taking a firm hold of my head bent it forward. I tried to look as if I had no thoughts on what he was going to do.

"Maybe you could crack a joke when you bend his head."

"I don’t think so Stan."

"Just trying to lighten things a bit Reg."

"No, just do what you just did Julian."

Mr Wilcox told me before giving the instruction to start filming again, and Mr Turner began filming, Mr Smith took the clippers, then with another firm hold bent my head down, and started clipping. I felt so embarrassed after a few minutes of clipping Mr Wilcox said to finish filming, then Mr Turner remarked that they should call the film "Reg the demon barber of Swan Lane." Even Mr Smith thought it was funny. They chatted away as Mr Smith tackled my hair at the sides. Finally, the clipping ordeal was over, and then they discussed the final filming.

"So now I just need to shave his neck and any tidying up, then the Brylcreem and he is done."

"So, I think get that all taken care off, then we will film you showing Julian the back in the mirror, and I want a big smile from you Julian, then he comes off the chair."

It was agreed by the others, so Mr Smith took his razor and shaved my neck and around my ears, then having placed the razor back he took the pot of Brylcreem.

"My trade mark haircut, the CCB."

"What’s that Reg?"

Mr Wilcox asked as Mr Smith was applying the Brylcreem to my hair.

"Cut, Clipped and Brylcreemed."

I sat there with my hair shining, with the severest side parting, the haircut all finished.

"Now Julian we are going to film the last bit, you’ll be shown the back in the mirror and you will be really pleased, a smile and a thank you. Can you manage that?"


"Yes Mr Wilcox."

"And it would be a good idea Julian, to sit up nice and straight and proud."

Mr Greville suggested. So I sat up bolt upright, and Mr Smith then held the mirror and I smiled and thanked him, having put the mirror back he removed the cape and I stepped off the chair. They then filmed me with my blazer on thanking Mr Smith then leaving and the filming was complete. It was three months later that the film was ready to be shown at the next meeting. I felt more than a little apprehensive but also quite excited about seeing the film. It was all narrated by Mr Greville’s brother who spoke like a television announcer. Mr Smith had told me we were about ten minutes in, and soon enough I appeared walking to sit in the barber’s chair.

"Here we have one of a founding father members, Mr Reginald Smith, and it looks like our youngest member Julian Walsh has come to have his haircut. Soon things are well underway, and now talk turns to the historical society as the barber’s scissors work away."

A few moments later, we then moved to Mr Smith bending my head down and starting clipping with the words

"Interesting historical society conversation pauses for a short while, and it looks like the barber has some very skilled work to do...keep your head steady for me Julian, theres a good lad."

The audience laughed at this remark, which made me cringe.It was strange watching Mr Smith bend my head and start clipping, but soon the film quickly moved to me sitting to attention, all cut, clipped and Brylcreemed with Mr Smith holding the mirror. We quickly then moved to me leaving.

"See you at the next meeting they both say and another happy customer leaves."

The film then moved quickly on to the next topic, and later when the lights came on, I felt very self-conscious, especially as Mr Smith had insisted on cutting my hair that afternoon. In just a few months he had acquired full control of the frequency of my haircuts as well as the length. A lot of people complemented Mr Smith for giving me such a smart haircut, and one lady said she wished her grandsons went to him. I would never be the happy customer leaving after my haircut as depicted in the film, but learned to accept that this was the way it was.

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