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My first hairdresser, or barber as they were known in those days, was Jimmy Oakley. Jimmy, a short tubby man had one leg a lot shorter than the other, causing him to wobble as he walked. My memory of my early haircuts, was him putting a leather padded board across the arm rests of the leather covered barbers chair, for me to sit on making me higher. The chair had a marble base, shaped like a cone, with the widest part on the floor and the chair swiveled around just below the seat. Jimmy was a very quick hair cutter, earning him the nickname of “two stroke,” That’s up one side and down the other. People would come in to his shop and say, “I’m catching the bus to Runanga in five minutes [it left from right outside his shop] can you do a haircut?” “Yes, get in the chair.” Occasionally Jimmy would get the bus to wait, but most times five minutes was all he needed. Mum knitted me a pullover from scraps of wool she had, or had recovered from undoing other knitted clothing. It had stripes of about half an inch [12mm] wide, in all different colours. Jimmy called me “Stripey” from then on. A vivid smell of hairdressers today, is that of Bay Rum, it reminds me of Jimmy Oakley.
Map[1] Contributor Brian McIntyre
My first hairdresser, or barber as they were known in those days, was Jimmy Oakley. Jimmy, a short tubby man had one leg a lot shorter than the other, causing him to wobble as he walked. My memory of my early haircuts, was him putting a leather padded board across the arm rests of the leather covered barbers chair, for me to sit on making me higher. The chair had a marble base, shaped like a cone, with the widest part on the floor and the chair swiveled around just below the seat. Jimmy was a very quick hair cutter, earning him the nickname of “two stroke,” That’s up one side and down the other. People would come in to his shop and say, “I’m catching the bus to Runanga in five minutes [it left from right outside his shop] can you do a haircut?” “Yes, get in the chair.” Occasionally Jimmy would get the bus to wait, but most times five minutes was all he needed. Mum knitted me a pullover from scraps of wool she had, or had recovered from undoing other knitted clothing. It had stripes of about half an inch [12mm] wide, in all different colours. Jimmy called me “Stripey” from then on. A vivid smell of hairdressers today, is that of Bay Rum, it reminds me of Jimmy Oakley.
Map[1] Contributor Brian McIntyre
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PersonJimmy OakleyOrganisation (eg business)HairdressersHairdressers
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CommentsFergus Pickens two very nice gentlemen Error was very good swimmer. I was a good mate of Lyles. RIP to LA all.
May 14 at 6:26pm · Like · 1
Christopher Morresey Short back & sides ,Next please .
May 14 at 6:34pm · Like
Sandra Geddes John married a girl I worked with in MOW.will think of her name ?Lesley!
May 14 at 6:40pm · Like
Mary Fittock CORRECT. Lesley Mayne .. i think.... photo wouldve been about 197... something..
May 14 at 7:08pm · Like
Brian McIntyre Two stroke Jimmy, up one side and own the other. My barber as they were called then
May 14 at 7:12pm · Like · 1
Bruce Tones Yes, ur right sandra, lesley mayne, from paroa
May 14 at 7:17pm · Like
Barry Ward John only looks about 17
May 14 at 7:18pm · Like
Kiri Ilton Lol
May 14 at 7:23pm · Like
Corinne Ord Lesley and John live in Nelson now see him every time we go to elson
May 14 at 7:33pm · Unlike · 2
Cherie Cochrane Oakley .... Police force?????
May 14 at 8:01pm · Unlike · 2
Glenda McMinn Errol Boucher
May 14 at 8:21pm · Like
Margaret Jacobs Rob Oakley
May 14 at 8:40pm · Like
Sonia Dando I worked for Peggy Rawciffe at Victoria hairdressers in Albert St. Remember the Oakleys.
May 14 at 8:43pm · Like
Danielle Tones Freeland Wow, a young John!
May 14 at 9:28pm · Like
Robyn Edwards Robert Oakley was a damn good stylist.
May 14 at 9:42pm · Unlike · 2
Anna Panther Brendon Oakley not sure if this is one that's been around for a while or another one xx
May 14 at 9:53pm · Unlike · 1
Roger Howell John Oakley now in Nelson I believe. Was a Private Investigator for IAG.
May 14 at 10:10pm · Unlike · 2
Tania Tones Lawrence Yep he was Roger. After being in the police force. Lesley still works but is talking about retiring. I was talking to John in the Richmond mall about a month ago. They have several grand children and their own children all have successful careers. John was Dads (Eric Tones) very good friend all his life.
May 15 at 8:32am · Unlike · 3
Roger Howell Yes John was a good guy and very professional investigator. Worked on a few dodgy insurance claims with John.
May 15 at 8:43am · Unlike · 2
Lois Tombs Yep John in Nelson, belongs to the Sun City Rockers ( rock n roll ) Lesley on committee with me
May 15 at 5:08pm · Like · 1
Christopher Morresey This is a true story; One night i was drinking at the kine george hotel in CH CH after hours when i spotted John Oakley ,instanly i yelld out 'John Oakley me old mate how yer going are you still a undercover cop ;At that point several devious looking persons quickly moved out . John looket at me and said 'Thanks Chris you have just blown three months work .Well not much more i can do now 'What are drinking mate .
May 15 at 7:06pm · Unlike · 10
Robyn Edwards Trust U! Lol.
May 15 at 7:24pm · Like
Roger Howell Christopher Morresey that was a great true story. Yes John was pretty unflappable alright!
May 15 at 11:47pm · Like
Barry Ward he was styill a good copper,i think he hated running into coasters
Yesterday at 12:43am · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre Remember looking into those mirrors in front of you and behind and you could see to infinity
1 hr · Like
Brian McIntyre Jimmy would put a padded seat across those arms of the chair to raise me up for him to give me a clip around the ears
1 hr · Like
Tania Tones Lawrence I was looking in a real estate window in Nelson dreaming of buying a house, when I sort of heard a car creeping along the side of the road....."whirp whirp" (police siren) Nearly hit the roof...John Oakley sitting in a mufti laughing his head off....bugger, lol.
1 hr · Unlike · 4
Geoffrey Bell That must be a Nelson Police thing Tania Tones Lawrence. Exactly the same thing happened to me , years ago, with George Rutledge.
1 hr · Unlike · 2
Sonia Dando Did Lee Gibson work there at some stage if I remember.
53 mins · Unlike · 1
Robyn Edwards From memory Lee started off as Jims apprentice. And as for the smell of Bay Rum- my dad smelt of that til the day he died. Each day after shave n shower-- Bay Rum was the routine. God the memories this page brings up!!
13 mins · Unlike · 1
May 14 at 6:26pm · Like · 1
Christopher Morresey Short back & sides ,Next please .
May 14 at 6:34pm · Like
Sandra Geddes John married a girl I worked with in MOW.will think of her name ?Lesley!
May 14 at 6:40pm · Like
Mary Fittock CORRECT. Lesley Mayne .. i think.... photo wouldve been about 197... something..
May 14 at 7:08pm · Like
Brian McIntyre Two stroke Jimmy, up one side and own the other. My barber as they were called then
May 14 at 7:12pm · Like · 1
Bruce Tones Yes, ur right sandra, lesley mayne, from paroa
May 14 at 7:17pm · Like
Barry Ward John only looks about 17
May 14 at 7:18pm · Like
Kiri Ilton Lol
May 14 at 7:23pm · Like
Corinne Ord Lesley and John live in Nelson now see him every time we go to elson
May 14 at 7:33pm · Unlike · 2
Cherie Cochrane Oakley .... Police force?????
May 14 at 8:01pm · Unlike · 2
Glenda McMinn Errol Boucher
May 14 at 8:21pm · Like
Margaret Jacobs Rob Oakley
May 14 at 8:40pm · Like
Sonia Dando I worked for Peggy Rawciffe at Victoria hairdressers in Albert St. Remember the Oakleys.
May 14 at 8:43pm · Like
Danielle Tones Freeland Wow, a young John!
May 14 at 9:28pm · Like
Robyn Edwards Robert Oakley was a damn good stylist.
May 14 at 9:42pm · Unlike · 2
Anna Panther Brendon Oakley not sure if this is one that's been around for a while or another one xx
May 14 at 9:53pm · Unlike · 1
Roger Howell John Oakley now in Nelson I believe. Was a Private Investigator for IAG.
May 14 at 10:10pm · Unlike · 2
Tania Tones Lawrence Yep he was Roger. After being in the police force. Lesley still works but is talking about retiring. I was talking to John in the Richmond mall about a month ago. They have several grand children and their own children all have successful careers. John was Dads (Eric Tones) very good friend all his life.
May 15 at 8:32am · Unlike · 3
Roger Howell Yes John was a good guy and very professional investigator. Worked on a few dodgy insurance claims with John.
May 15 at 8:43am · Unlike · 2
Lois Tombs Yep John in Nelson, belongs to the Sun City Rockers ( rock n roll ) Lesley on committee with me
May 15 at 5:08pm · Like · 1
Christopher Morresey This is a true story; One night i was drinking at the kine george hotel in CH CH after hours when i spotted John Oakley ,instanly i yelld out 'John Oakley me old mate how yer going are you still a undercover cop ;At that point several devious looking persons quickly moved out . John looket at me and said 'Thanks Chris you have just blown three months work .Well not much more i can do now 'What are drinking mate .
May 15 at 7:06pm · Unlike · 10
Robyn Edwards Trust U! Lol.
May 15 at 7:24pm · Like
Roger Howell Christopher Morresey that was a great true story. Yes John was pretty unflappable alright!
May 15 at 11:47pm · Like
Barry Ward he was styill a good copper,i think he hated running into coasters
Yesterday at 12:43am · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre Remember looking into those mirrors in front of you and behind and you could see to infinity
1 hr · Like
Brian McIntyre Jimmy would put a padded seat across those arms of the chair to raise me up for him to give me a clip around the ears
1 hr · Like
Tania Tones Lawrence I was looking in a real estate window in Nelson dreaming of buying a house, when I sort of heard a car creeping along the side of the road....."whirp whirp" (police siren) Nearly hit the roof...John Oakley sitting in a mufti laughing his head off....bugger, lol.
1 hr · Unlike · 4
Geoffrey Bell That must be a Nelson Police thing Tania Tones Lawrence. Exactly the same thing happened to me , years ago, with George Rutledge.
1 hr · Unlike · 2
Sonia Dando Did Lee Gibson work there at some stage if I remember.
53 mins · Unlike · 1
Robyn Edwards From memory Lee started off as Jims apprentice. And as for the smell of Bay Rum- my dad smelt of that til the day he died. Each day after shave n shower-- Bay Rum was the routine. God the memories this page brings up!!
13 mins · Unlike · 1
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West Coast New Zealand History (8th Apr 2021). Hair cuts. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 3rd May 2026 02:54, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/898