Tribute to popular Bewdley barber Victor who died of Covid

Vittorio Gualano, or Victor as he liked to be known, passed away on February 11, aged 78, after contracting coronavirus in hospital.

His death came just weeks after his retirement, when he was awarded the Mayor's Thank You Award for 50 years of trading from his barber shop in Load Street.

Victor was very well-known in Bewdley and cut the hair of three generations of several families in the town

Victor came to the country from Italy in the early 1960s when there was a shortage of barbers in England. He worked in Kidderminster and Worcester before opening Victor's Gentleman’s Hairdresser in June 1970.

Victor was the longest-serving shop keeper in Bewdley and cut the hair of three generations of several families in the town.

He had two children and three grandchildren.

Paying tribute,Victor's partner of 22 years Kim Fisher said: "People knew him as Bewdley Victor. Victor knew everybody and everybody knew Victor.

"He was a lovely, kind man who would help anybody. He was very charismatic, very Italian, and there weren’t many of those in Bewdley. He was also very religious and he did a lot for the Catholic Church.

"He could tell many tales of Bewdley and its characters from over the years. There was one gentleman years ago who used to come into the shop acting like he had nothing, so Victor used to give him all sorts - razors, soap and coffee - then he found out he was selling them. He had lots of stories to tell.

"The outpouring from everybody in the community has been amazing. I had a lovely letter from one of his customers who said Victor loved gossip but always knew when to say things and when to be discreet.

Victor was presented with Bewdley Mayor Anna Coleman's Thank You Award in December for 50 years trading in the town. Photo by Colin Hill

"He bowled for Kidderminster, he loved bowling, and he loved his garden. He loved walking in the Wyre Forest and going on holidays. We went back to Italy for his 60th birthday - he hadn't been in many years.

"We had planned to travel more during his retirement. He wanted to spend more time in the garden and relax because he had always been on the go all of his life.

"He truly loved Bewdley and he loved all of the people in it. He felt like a big part of the town."

Victor had a mild underlying lung condition and, after suffering with breathing difficulties, went in to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where he contracted Covid-19 and sadly died.

A funeral will take place on Thursday, March 11 but guest numbers are restricted to 30 due to Covid guidelines.

On Wednesday, March 10, Victor's hearse will stop at the Guildhall at 3.30pm and Mayor of Bewdley Anna Coleman will then lead a procession past the barber shop and out of the town to St Ambrose Church in Kidderminster.

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His partner Kim added: "We can't have many people at the funeral but we hope that many of his customers will be there to see him the day before because the response to his death has been amazing.

"It is such a tragedy. I think we were all lucky to have known him."