ONE OF London’s first black barbers has died at the age of 86.
Clevent Artrey, affectionately known as Mr Gee, had worked as a barber at his iconic shop in north-west London, for more than 50 years.
Gee’s Barbers was located in Kensal Rise and was one of the first black barbershops in London.
The shop grew in popularity because of its charismatic master barber but also as it provided a “safe space” to those who walked through its doors.
Speaking to The Voice, his daughter, Sandra Artrey said: “It wasn’t just a barbershop it was like a community centre, a hang out spot.
“Many people have told me it was a place where men went when they had problems with their wives and partners and found solitude.
“It was like a community centre for men.”
Mr Artrey was born in Browns Hall, St Catherine, Jamaica, and moved to England in 1955, when he was just 20 years old.
When he first arrived in London he lived in Ladbroke Grove, west London, with his brother.
He later moved to Harlesden, in north-west London, before finally settling in nearby Kensal Rise in 1963.
He raised two children with his first wife, Elva Joyce Henry, who passed away in 1975.
Mr Artrey went on to have four more children with his second wife, Edna May Johnson.
Ms Artrey, from Cricklewood, north-west London, is one of Mr Artrey’s children from his first marriage.
She told The Voice, her father was a skilled and experienced barber who had learnt the trade while living in Jamaica.
She said: “He learnt the trade of cutting hair in the West Indies and he also learnt to make shoes in Jamaica.
“He started off cutting hair underneath the staircase of the house.
“So many people were coming to the house, he moved the people from under the stairs, where he had a little makeshift barbershop.
“He built a shed in the back garden with two sinks and started cutting hair there.”
In 1968, Mr Artrey trained as a hairdresser at The Hairdressing Academy in the Strand, to learn how to style a variety of hair types and textures.
He later opened his first shop on the Great Western Road, in Westbourne Park, west London.
In 1969, he partnered with a friend, Winston Daley, and opened a barber shop on Willesden High Road, in north west London.
By 1970, Mr Artrey opened Gee’s Barbers, at 7 Keslake Mansions, Kensal Rise, and it was one of the first black barbershops in London.
Ms Artrey told The Voice, her father was a popular and well-respected member of the local community and “would speak to anyone”.
She said: “He had a great rapport with people and would always speak to people.
“Plus, his chair was at the window, so if he wasn’t at the door he would always wave to people and they would come in to the shop and speak to him.”
Ms Artrey said her father loved his shop and would often work six days a week and in his later years of life, worked every single day.
She said: “When I was a child, he would work six days a week, because Sunday was the day where we would clean the shop.
“Me and brother used to help clean the mirrors, mop the floor and wash the towels.
“As he got older, he started working seven days a week.”
“He loved the banter and to engage with people, he just loved having people around him,” she added.
Mr Artrey was keen to pass on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of barbers and during his career he trained more that 40 barbers and hairdressers – with some of them now operating some of London’s busiest barbershops.
According to his daughter, the barbershop was also a popular place for celebrities to come and get their haircut.
She said: “British soul singer Seal, who lived in the area when he was a child, would come in and have his haircut and reggae singer Jimmy Cliff would also visit dad whenever he was in London.”
Mr Artrey successfully ran the business up until August last year, when he retired due to ill health.
According to his daughter he didn’t own the shop, but rented the premises and surrendered the lease when he became unwell.
Ms Artrey said her father touched so many lives and was a mentor to many in London and will be dearly missed.
She added: “Dad was a very caring individual, he used to allow homeless people sleep in the shop until they got themselves together.”
Mr Artery died on December 3, following a battle with liver cancer, diabetes and pneumonia and his funeral took place on January 13.
He is survived by his second wife, six children, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/community/2022/01/24/barber-gee-one-of-londons-first-black-barbers-dies/
