by Ian Austen

ian.austen@essnmedia.co.uk

Pasquale Iorizzo has come a long way in the world of barbering since he first started shaving balloons in his tiny village outside Naples in Italy back in the late 1960s.

The distance he has travelled includes not only honing his skills with scissors and a razor but travelling across Europe to Croydon.

And last week he celebrated 30 years running his traditional barber's shop – Valentino's in Surrey Street.

Mr Iorizzo said: "I wasn't very good at school so I was told I would have to go out and get a job.

"I tried my hand in the building trade but it was a bit too heavy for me and I started training with the village barber instead.

"Shaving balloons with a razor to learn the skills was an important part of that training and if I burst them I was in a lot of trouble."

Mr Iorizzo's wanderlust started when he met his wife-to-be, Clelia while she was on holiday in Italy from England.

He said: "Clelia is Italian but was already living in England and she told me if I wanted to be with her I would have to come over here."

After arriving in 1971, he started working almost immediately for a barber in East Croydon before moving to a shop in central London.

Mr Iorizzo said he got fed up with travelling into London and decided to set up his own business.

"I had a bit of money behind me because I was working in the day as a barber and in a hotel at night," he said.

Mr Iorizzo first approached the owner of Antoine's barber in South Croydon to ask if he wanted to sell but, was steered to the Surrey Street shop where one of the two Italian partners wanted to sell up.

So in 1980, his association with Croydon began. Two years later, the other partner decided to go back to Italy and Mr Iorizzo bought his share to become sole owner.

He said: "I have been very happy here and I am still cutting the hair of some of the customers who first came here 30 years ago."

Mr Iorizzo says his continuing success is down to moving with the times, while retaining a traditional edge.

He said: "I like to spend time with my customers and take care over their haircut. It is good to chat with them and I never rush things."

Now aged 53, the 30th anniversary has not prompted him to think about retiring.

"I am still working six days a week and I think there are a few years left in me yet," he said.