WITH the red and while striped pole outside and usually a plate glass window, through which passers-by can see assorted men studying the daily tabloids or the Racing Post as they wait until a chair becomes free, the traditional barber's shop is one of the last male bastions in an increasingly unisex world.

"Of course we do allow women in here," said Michael Veale, "it's just that we don't cut their hair. Never felt the slightest desire to."

Mike's shop stands at the bottom of Broad Street in Worcester and the only ladies who cross the threshold have young sons in tow.

"I learned long ago not to give what you might call extreme fashion haircuts' to pre-teenage lads without their parents permission," he explained. "If you do, you stand the chance of them being hoiked back a couple of hours later by their mother, who is demanding to know what you've done to her son's hair, "despite the fact you've cut it exactly as he's asked".

"If there's any doubt, I insist on a letter from the parents or their mother comes with them."

Dealing with the clients, the banter, the jokes and the putting the world to rights has been a regular routine for Mike Veale for 50 years, and one he's going to miss.

Because one of Worcester's finest barbers of his generation is hanging up his clippers and comb, clearing the fallen hair from the floor for the last time and calling it a day.

In March he completes the handover of his business to his son Toby and, at 65, he'll be off shifting a few more divots from golf courses around the county and possibly visiting a few countries around the world.

Mike never wanted to be a car mechanic like his father.

"He worked for Wakefields, the Rootes dealers in Farrier Street, Worcester, and as a lad I can remember him coming home covered in oil and grease and spending ages trying to get the muck from under his fingernails. I never fancied that. He suffered from lumbago in later life too, caused by bending over bonnets and crawling under cars."

The Veale family lived in the Barbourne area of the city and Mike was a graduate, as he called it, of the Samuel Southall Academy for Young Gentlemen. A description that will no doubt bring a nostalgic smile to the faces of those who remember the former secondary educational establishment in Merriman's Hill.

While at school, Mike and a mate hatched a plan to train as apprentice gents' hairdressers and then open their own business. Unfortunately, the mate reneged on the deal and so in 1958 Mike started on his own as an apprentice to barber Alf Smith in Barbourne Road, opposite the junction with St George's Lane. It was 100 yards' walk from home.

"The apprenticeship lasted three years, during which I had to call him Mr Smith," Mike recalled. "When it finished, he came over and said: You can call me Alf now'."

Mike then worked for Gerry Bachelor in The Tything, opposite Worcester Royal Grammar School, before going solo in 1965, from a shop in Lowesmoor that had been a bakery. In 1970 he went into partnership with Terry Bourne and they ran a barbers business in the old Blackfriars shopping precinct in Worcester until 1990, when it was compulsorily purchased as part of the massive CrownGate redevelopment scheme. That's when Mike moved to his current shop at the bottom of Broad Street.

Not far away are both the county cricket ground and Worcester racecourse, so it's no surprise a fair few sportsmen have dropped in - like trainer and jockey Jamie Osbourne, former WCCC captain Phil Neale, who is still a regular, and England spinner Gareth Batty, plus umpire and character Dickie Bird. From the first floor window, you can see a fair slice of Worcester life passing by, but three days before Christmas in 2001 all hell let loose.

As the sound of carols filled the air and shoppers made their way home laden with presents, Mike looked out to see a car suddenly screech to a halt and a man jump out brandishing a handgun. Close behind was a police car with all lights blazing.

This was no student prank, it was for real and Mike witnessed at first hand, the bravery of PC Ian Fielding as he tackled the gunman right outside the barber's shop.

Despite the threat of being shot, the policeman knocked the gunman, who was wanted after stabbing someone three days before, to the ground and with the help of passers-by held him until reinforcements arrived.

"It was the bravest thing I have ever seen anyone do," said Mike, who later wrote to the chief constable to praise the officer's courage. Fortunately not every day's like that and any excitement has been mainly confined to the style of men's haircuts over the years.

"Long or short, I've seen it all," said Mike. "You have to keep up with the latest trends or you'll never survive."

As he packs his scissors into their case and sweeps the floor one last time, we wish him a long and happy retirement. No more notes from mothers saying "Shane is not to have a Mohican" or "I have given George the money, make sure you get it off him."

The golf course awaits. Where the only cut that matters is the halfway stage of the club tournament.