Forty years of Changes

Megan Whittaker, Mandy Whittaker, Sharon Whittaker and Tim Whittaker

Changes Hairdressing, Littleborough's oldest hair salon, is celebrating 40 years of business this month.

The salon, on Church Street, was opened as a unisex hair salon in November 1976 by father and son Russell and Alan Earnshaw. 

Tim Whittaker, who was trained at a top salon in Manchester, was approached by Alan to join the team and train the staff in ladies haircutting and modern techniques.  In 1981, Tim became manager of the salon after Alan emigrated to Australia.

Tim became a business partner with Russell in1988 and two years later he and his wife Sharon bought the business and premises from Russell. 

They kept the Changes name and still run the salon today with Tim as a very technical cutter and Sharon as receptionist and book-keeper.  Tim's sister, Mandy, works as a stylist and Tim and Sharon's daughter, Megan, is the colouring technician - Megan received the 'Student of the Year' prize at Bury College while she was working towards her Level Three qualification.
 
Many other staff have worked at the salon over the years and Tim and Sharon remain very good friends with all of them.

Tim and Sharon said: "We would like to thank all our customers, old, new and of course present.  We hope the business continues to be a successful, warm and friendly salon for many more years to come."

The building on Church Street was built in 1797 and has been home to many businesses over the years.  In 1871 it was owned by William Eastwood who ran a watchmakers and a tobacconists business.  In 1900 it was a butchers shop and in 1965 it became a perfumery and make-up shop run by Michael Hollingrake.