The Cuttings

Have you ever been to Macklin Street in Derby? If you have you will surely be aware of ‘Christopher’s Men’s Hairdressing and Model Railway Book Shop’. That’s right, a shop where you can do two things. They are



1.     (If you’re a man) Get your hair ‘dressed’.

2.     Buy a book about Model Railways.

There is no doubt about what happens in this shop. It’s not like CURRY’S. Have you ever seen a Chicken Korma on their shelves? It is also noteworthy that this is not a barbershop. No one goes into ‘CMHAMRBS’ for a short back and sides or ‘the usual’. This is the dressing of hair. For men. Crimping, coiffuring, lacquering and perming are sure to be taking place on a daily basis. The Derby area must be full of men with hair like Pat Sharpe (circa 1988), Kevin Keegan (circa 1975) and Donald Trump (circa always).


I wonder if they’re widely advertised in Derbyshire; “POPPING INTO TOWN FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS? IF THOSE THINGS ARE A HAIRCUT AND A BOOK ON THE 1978 HORNBY INTER-CITY SLEEPER WHY NOT COME TO.......”.

Or even

“SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND, SIR? HOW ABOUT THIS BOOK ON THE FLYING SCOTSMAN?”

The owner, Christopher, is clearly a lucky man and has been able to make a living by combining something he is skilled at (hairdressing) with something he has a passion for (Books about Model Railways). It’s usually only the rich and famous who are able to do this. David Beckham is fortunately skilled at playing football and this enables him to pursue his real passion which is for covering himself in tattoos. Cheryl Cole is skilled at selling shampoo and has a passion for assaulting people in nightclub toilets. I’d love to describe the interior of ‘CMHAMRBS’ to you but I didn’t go in or even peer through the window. It had already taken me thirty minutes to find Macklin Street and discover that it was actually 500 yards from where I’d seen my client that afternoon. I walked away from ‘CMHAMRBS’ and booked myself into the Heritage Hotel. It was one of the most depressing places I’ve ever stayed in plus, it transpired, there was a nightclub within the building. The Heritage was able to provide something they were skilled at (Auschwitz style hospitality) with something they had a passion for (depriving me of sleep until 3am).