63-year-old Christopher Wrigglesworth has hung up the scissors and laid down the hairdryer for the last time.

The Devizes local who retired from his No. 3 salon on Snuff Street last week, began hairdressing in the early 1980s and has since mentored and trained many stylists in the town.

He has owned and run various salons across the towns under different names that you might recognise, including Bill & Ben, Just Ben, The Cutters Wharf and No. 3.

But after welcoming his last customer and waving goodbye to old colleagues, Chris has retired to travel the world, and the customers of No. 3 salon have made it known that Devizes won't be the same without him.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Chris Wrigglesworth was 'more like a friend than a hairdresser'.Chris Wrigglesworth was 'more like a friend than a hairdresser'. (Image: Christopher Wrigglesworth)

“Chris has been my amazing hairdresser for 33 years,” said Carol Osland from Devizes.

“He has built up such a great business in Devizes over the years and he’ll be a very hard act to follow. It’s difficult to put into words the impact that he’s had the community.”

Marina Jones, who is 53 years old, has been getting her hair cut by Chris since she was 18.

“I’ve been with him from the early days when he rented a chair in a salon off of Bridewell Street right through to getting his own salon.” she said.

“Our lives paralleled at the same time, in house purchases, weddings and the birth of children – although he’s beaten me to retirement.”

“All of my kids had their hair cut by him and I sent a lot of my friends in his direction too. He's just a gem,” she added.

For Liz Hubbard in Calne it’s a similar story, as she wrote: “He’s just a legend. Served me and all the family for well over 38 years.”

And for many locals, Chris continues to have a legacy that extends beyond being just a hairdresser.

“I have been going to Chris since he had a place at the Wharf here in Devizes,” said Tina Cross.

“I remember the look on Chris’s face the first time I told him to cover the mirror and give me a new style. The way I reasoned it out, he was never going to let me walk out of the salon a mess.

“It takes years to build up that kind of trust in a person,” she said.

“He was more than just my hairdresser – I viewed him as a friend, and always will” added Ms Jones.