A hairdresser who has cut the hair of Bobby Moore and Terry Venables says the real stars are his loyal customers who have kept him in business for 50 years.

Jim Brown, 69, has owned James Brown Unisex Hairdressers in West Grove, Woodford Green, since 1963 when he took over the business from another barber at the young age of 19.

And he has been going strong ever since, with his skills in demand from Brylcreem in the 1960s to style and cut Bobby Moore’s hair for an advert, while he won 24 UK cutting competitions in a row as a member of the British Hairdressing Team.

That achievement brought in another famous client, then-Tottenham Hotspur manager Terry Venables, and Mr Brown says the former England boss still owes him £1 from a bet they made.

He said: “He came in and I said we’d talk about anything apart from football. It must be all he hears. So we spoke about a lot of things, he was great, but he still owes me a pound actually because I had a bet with him he would become England manager.

“These guys are lovely people but my customers have been very special. The true stars of my business are the people who’ve been coming for 15, 20 years.”

He said they come as much for a cup of tea and a betting tip as for a trim on the back and sides.

“These people are friends, they’ve suffered my jokes and poor horse racing tips for a long time,” he said.

“It’s a social club, people come in for coffee or tea. This isn’t a business no more for me, it’s a hobby. I had all the lads round here the other day, we have ladies coming in and the young guys, 18, 20 years old.”

And he believes Woodford Green has not changed dramatically since he opened up shop half a century ago.

The grandfather-of-eight said: “I don’t think a lot’s really changed. I see a lot more hairdressers and food shops but Woodford’s still a special place.

“Seeing your customers grow up as children, then cutting the children of their children’s hair is incredible. I’ve had a wonderful time so far.”

Mr Brown said that any woman bringing in a copy of this article in this week’s Guardian is entitled to £5 off their hair cut or colour, and is planning a celebration for his business on the weekend of his 70th birthday, on Friday and Saturday, October 4 and 5.

Everyone is invited to the shop for drinks and refreshments.