Fellowship celebrate 75 years with glittering Luncheon & Awards

After a virtual Awards in 2020, the Fellowship were back with a glittering Luncheon & Awards at the coolest hotel in London, The Londoner, in Leicester Square.

Chancellor Ashleigh Hodges and President Ken Picton welcomed some 420 guests to the Ballroom, to celebrate the past 75 years and get ready for an exciting future. “We have faced the worst, but we came out as the best,” Ken said. “What doesn’t challenge you doesn’t change you and we have embraced the changes while living by our core values.”

Chairman Barry Stephens paid respect to those in the industry we had lost this year, while presenting a special Fellow of Distinction to Chris Williams from Rush Hair & Beauty, accepted by Andy Heasman. He also presented a cheque for £3,720 to the Hair & Beauty Charity for money raised through the special 2021 Yearbook.

F.A.M.E. Team leaders Gary Hooker and Michael Young talked about the challenges they faced, but applauded the professionalism of the 2021 team, who took everything in their stride over the difficult months, before announcing the four new members who have a year of amazing opportunities in front of them; Darrel Starkey, Taylors Hair Studio, Lydia Wolfe, Jack & the Wolfe, Jessica Hau, Rush Wimbledon and Alex Cook, Wispers Hair Salon.

In true Fellowship tradition, the awards followed a delicious three-course meal, with Errol Douglas MBE picking up Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year to a standing ovation. This is the second time he has won the award, having first won it in 2004.