ONE of the region’s most successful and popular hairdressers has died.

Billy Ingham – who won countless awards for his hairdressing skills – died on November 11 from a rare form of cancer at Bradford Royal Infirmary. He was 74.

Mr Ingham was born and raised in Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse.

He left school and started work at Ed Taylor’s hairdressing salon in Market Street, Brighouse, in 1953.

But he was then called up for his National Service with the RAF in 1956 and admitted he loved every minute of it.

Mr Ingham returned to hairdressing in 1958 and started taking part in competitions all over the country.

He would go on to win national and international awards, chalking up a staggering total of 150 awards.

He won 104 first prizes over the next three decades.

Mr Ingham set up his own salon and later opened branches in Elland, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Halifax, Bingley, Leeds, Cleckheaton and Manchester.

He fell ill in his late 50s and was forced to retire at 60 from his salon in Cleckheaton. But five years later his health had improved and he became quality control manager for a large hairdressing company .

He finally hung up his scissors at the age of 70 due to more health problems.

One of the highlights of his career was that he got to meet and cut the hair of several well-known celebrities, including football legend Denis Law and comedian Russ Abbot.