A FORMER Mayoress of Calderdale retires this week after 47 years running her own ladies’ hair salon.

Eileen Watson shuts her salon, Eileen Hair Stylist, at Halifax Road, Birchencliffe, for the final time on Friday.

The premises, which were originally a butcher’s shop, will continue to be a hairdressers under new ownership.

Eileen, who lives at Holywell Green and attended West Vale Junior School, was an apprentice hairdresser in Elland before launching the business at Birchencliffe in partnership with another stylist, Pauline Collins.

After a few years, Eileen took sole ownership of the salon and built up a loyal clientele.

She said: “I have always enjoyed my work. I have met some wonderful people who I count as friends now. I have customers who have been coming every week for 40-some years.

“Everyone was very understanding two years ago when my husband Keith was Mayor of Calderdale and I had to have time off from the salon to attend civic functions. I’d like to thank everyone who has come over the years.”

Eileen plans to spend more time gardening during retirement.

The couple, who have a daughter Karen and granddaughter Charlotte, 12, are also looking forward to caravanning in Scotland and the Yorkshire Dales.

Eileen said: “The business is very different now to what it was when I started. For a start, most salons don’t have those huge hood driers – which I still have!”