A working woman could save a few shillings a week, and then every five weeks she'd come in and we'd cut her hair. She could shampoo it under the shower, swing it and dry it off or just let it dry by itself. It changed the lives of many young girls who'd never had the opportunity to be styled like that before.

I kept thinking I would be spending my life up to my elbows in shampoo.

I don't sort of sit in a chair and pompously feel proud of myself about all the things we might have accomplished.

I got a telegraph from my mother who said that my step-father had had a heart attack, come home and earn a living. So I went back to England and the only thing I knew to earn any cash was through hairdressing.

My idea was to cut shape into the hair, to use it like fabric and take away everything that was superfluous.

My greatest regret is selling my company.

My mother had a premonition and she felt that hairdressing would be very very good for me.