A close shave for Ralph!

I write to say a few words on Elliot, Audlem's new barber, and his new venture here.

I was a client there last week and I must say he is a very good barber. He has good skills and a very pleasing manner. He is also offering the chance of a cut throat razor shave for the more adventurous.

On which subject, I tell of the time I last had such a shave. Some 25 years ago, Joan ( my much lamented late wife) and myself were touring Egypt and Jordan, and we travelled overland to Petra, that haunting rose red city "as old as time."

We even rode on horseback down the very narrow souk into the city itself. A fantastic experience. We stayed in the tiny town then of Wadi Musa, near to the Valley of the Moon – Wadi Rum. Walking around the very hot and very dusty streets and the goats and sheep, I espied a barber shop. No door, just the doorway in an adobe building.

A huge red leather and chrome barber's chair was there occupying most of the area, looking for all the world like something out of the days of Al Capone! Benches by the side wall.

In I went, to the horror of Joan. I was shaved so finely by the bearded barber with a gleaming razor. Then, to the amusement now of quite a few boys and youths – all in their long robes – who had crowded the shop to see this crazy foreigner, the barber proceed to light a wax taper and singe away any more facial hair he could find – even in my nostrils!

A steaming hot towel wrapped all over my face, and then I was done. A memorable experience. Now I must try Elliot and his close shaves some day!

Ralph Warburton

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.