The Rest Of The Story . . . November 10th, 2010

He was too young to fight in World War II, even though the desire to tackle fascism was strong within him. He had witnessed the horrible bombing of London before being uprooted to safety.

So it was natural when, upon returning to England, he was outraged to find hate and fascism alive on the streets of London. Barely 17, he joined the “43 Group”, named after 43 servicemen returning from the war and unwilling to allow such a threat to go unchecked.

His parents insisted he “find a trade” so he apprenticed himself to a local professional and spent his days learning how to earn a living, and his nights learning how to fight for his beliefs. He soon developed a “rep” as a willing and able warrior- one to “ride the river with” to borrow a phrase.

He found fighting for his principles to be harsh and brutal. It was also up close and personal, and he frequently arrived for his apprenticeship training bruised and bleeding. However, never one to abandon his responsibilities, he stuck with both.

Finally he finished his apprenticeship, and the 43 Group, feeling it had accomplished its mission, disbanded. No one from that Group ever questioned his courage.

He was gifted with a host of other admirable traits, one being a quick sense of humor. When a wide-eyed customer asked him how he had come to look so beat-up and bloody, he reportedly replied “Oh, it’s nothing- I just tripped over a hair pin”.

You may know of him- his name is Vidal Sassoon, one of the greatest hairdressers ever!