A NEILSTON barber has been thanked for his service to the community over the last 50 years.

East Renfrewshire's MP, Kirsten Oswald presented Billy Sinclair of Sinclair Hair Studios with an Early Day Motion which she has tabled at Westminster after he has cut hair in the community for more than five decades.

We previously reported that Billy is set to retire on Saturday, April 15.

He started working with James Lawns in Cross Arthurlie Street, Barrhead, before deciding to start his own barber shop for gents in 1968 on Kirktonfield Road, Neilston.

The barber then moved to his current location on Mainstreet in the village in 1980.

Over the last 35 years, Billy has been joined by Mick Barclay and Cathy Moore who managed the gents and ladies’ services.

Kirsten Oswald MP said: “It was lovely to visit Sinclair Hair Studios in Neilston to wish Billy Sinclair a very happy retirement after more than fifty years of cutting hair.

“He and his colleagues Cathy and Mick have put in a huge shift over the years and have made the shop a real village institution.

“I wish him a very happy and enjoyable retirement as he hangs up his scissors on Saturday.”

We previously told how Billy is looking forward to playing more golf and visiting his three young grandchildren in Dubai in his retirement.

He said: “I’m quite emotional and quite sad, but I think 55 years is long enough. It’s time to.

“I have a close association with Uplawmoor and Barrhead. I was captain of Caldwell Golf Club in 1996, so golf is a big part of my life and I know a lot of people through the golf club.

“I’ve got grandchildren in Dubai, so I’ll be able to see more of them.”