A 78-year-old barber who trimmed the hair of Bucks travellers heading into London for 25 years has finally hung up his scissors. 

Demetrius Georgiou, known as Chris to his customers, has become a familiar face among those travelling along the Chiltern Railways M40 corridor, through High Wycombe and Beaconsfield, and on the Aylesbury to London line over the past 25 years. 

Three generations of his family have owned and run barber shops at railway stations around London, with Chris being headhunted by Chiltern Railways founder, the late Adrian Shooter CBE, to work at Marylebone whilst he was trimming the hair of commuters at London Bridge station in the 1990s.

He set up shop at Marylebone station on February 16, 1998, and was joined by his son John to cut what he estimates to be a total of 75,000 customers' hair over the last quarter of a decade. 

As of Friday, September 15, however, Chris has bid farewell to the business so he can retire and spend more time with his family - a choice he was reluctant to make, but which he believes is the right thing to do. 

He said: "I didn't really want to retire, but I'm 78 now and my family have told me I have to!

"My plans are to spend time with my wife and my oldest son, who has cerebral palsy. We will go on holiday at some point, but nothing is planned yet!"

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On Chris's last day, he was presented with a framed pair of golden scissors by Andy Camp, the Commercial and Strategy Director at Chiltern Railways, as a commemorative recognition of his years of service to customers of the line.

Mr Camp said: "Chris and John's shop has left a lasting impression on customers at Chiltern, both past and present.

"We're sorry to see them leave Marylebone, and as a long-time customer of over ten years, I didn't want to see Chris retire without visiting one last time.

"They encapsulate the friendly, familiar and reliable service that we aim to provide to our customers, and have been a real asset to Marylebone station for the last 25 years.

"We'd like to wish Chris all the best in his retirement and thank him and John for their continued service to Chiltern customers."

Rob Brighouse, the Managing Director at Chiltern Railways between 2011 and 2015, also paid tribute to the barber shop, which he said added to the "unique character" and "special feel" of Marylebone station.

"Chris and his son, John, always stood out as exceptional and their focus on the customer over many years was, in a way, an exact reflection of all that we stand for at Chiltern Railways.

"They have done us proud and will be missed."