Local barbers have been awarded for their service at an appreciation ceremony.

Organiser Ricky Spence and Wayne Scott, Minister of Education, presented ten barbers with long-service awards, while 12 barber shops received prizes for their services.

“I thought it was time for honouring our senior barbers, barbers I’ve looked up to for years,” Mr Spence said.

“Why wait for someone to pass to reward them for something they have been doing for 40 to 50 years?”

Mr Spence has been a barber for more than 40 years and owns Ricky’s Barber Shop on Glebe Road, Pembroke.

He said his profession could be a challenging one, requiring hard work and being on your feet throughout the day.

He added that barbers played an important part in the community.

More than 100 people attended the Ricky’s Barber Shop Appreciation Awards, held at Paradise Lounge last Sunday, to enjoy the awards ceremony and a buffet dinner.

Charles Earlston “Scretche” Lawrence, Theodosia Lambert, Myron Tucker, Cromwell Shakir, Willard Burch, Kenneth Wolffe, Clyde Simons, Reginald Brown, Malcolm Ming and Ricky Spence were honoured for their 40-plus years of service.

The barber shop awards went to Universal Barber Shop, Creative Cuts, Trojaniers Barber Shop, Malcolm’s Barber Shop, the Cutting Room, Quality Cutz, Ricky’s Barber Shop, Whitter’s International Barber Shop, Cut Creator Barber Shop, Portraits Afrique Hair Studio, Exquisite Cutzz and Exclusive Barber Shop.

Mr Spence organised the awards through Bermuda Laser Engraving Services and thanked Jamaican Grill, Fish and Tings, Chopsticks, radio station Hott 107.5 and Yardie Kitchen for contributing to the event.