A LOYAL 90-year-old client became the first customer through the door at Wiltshire College’s new £21 million Chippenham campus hair salon last week.

As a thank you for her regular custom, Betty Brotherwood, 90, was the first to test the new Aspire salon receiving complimentary hair treatments to celebrate the salon’s opening on Thursday (Nov 12).

Mrs Brotherwood first visited the college hair salon in Cocklebury Road for a blow dry and perm more than 30 years ago and has returned almost every week ever since.

She said: “I decided to try the salon because it was close to where I lived at the time and because of the competitive prices I could afford to come every week.

“It was wonderful to be invited to be the salon’s first client and I think that it looks really wonderful.

“The colour scheme is lovely, it looks very modern and I am sure is going to be popular with the students and clients.”

Hairdressing student Chrissi Bryant, 31 of Chippenham, said she had been excited and nervous about doing such an important customer’s hair to mark the opening.

“I had done her hair once before in the old salon and she was happy with how I did it then, so I was really pleased to give her a blow dry and also curl her hair," she added.

“She usually has different students do her hair so that they get to practice a different style to those they do with other clients.

“It’s well-known within the salon and the hairdressing team that most students learn how to master a cut and blow dry on Mrs Brotherwood.”

The Aspire hair and beauty salons provide a realistic training environment for students to learn the skills needed to thrive in the industry.

Salon manager, Jane Webster, said: “We thought it fitting that Mrs Brotherwood should be the first client through the door and that it would be a nice way to say thank you for her kindness and patience with our students over the past three decades”

The college offers a variety of full and part time courses and apprenticeships including hairdressing, hair and media make up, barbering, nail technology and beauty therapy.

For more information or to book an appointment call 01249 465343.