Tributes paid to well known Melton hairdresser who has died aged 72

Pauline Moulds, who lived at Needham Close in the town, was 72.

She latterly worked at the Diamond Hair Salon in the Bell Centre but had also owned, and worked at, a number of salons across the town.

Pauline fell ill shortly after Christmas and was then diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Her husband, Colin, a former long-serving sports editor at the Melton Times, said: “Pauline was given six to 12 months but she only lasted five weeks.

“People are devastated. We’ve had that many sympathy cards I can’t put them all up in the house.

“It’s a been a huge shock. People keeeping saying to me ‘I didn’t even know she was ill’.”

Pauline was born in Waltham and grew up on the family farm, Freeby View Farm.

She had a twin brother, Robert (72), and an older brother, John, who moved to Canada many years ago.

A former pupil at Brownlow and Sarson Schools in Melton, she left aged 15 to become an apprentice hairdresser with Eunice Chapman, who owned salons in Nottingham Street and Park Lane.

Pauline’s first husband was town builder Stephen Herbert and the couple had two children, Jonathan and Luci.

She opened her first salon in the former Norman Street (now Norman Way) and also ran a cafe nextdoor with her husband.

Pauline married Colin in 1985 after the couple met while playing badminton against each other.

He recalled: “She played for Waltham and I played for Scalford. I used to frighten her to death the way I used to hit the shuttlecock. I asked her out from there.”

Pauline had a hair salon in Waltham and then opened Pauline’s Hair Studio in Cranmere Road. She also ran a hairdressing business in Park Lane and partnered with Bev Bradsaw in another one called Cutting Edge in Market Place. Pauline also worked in Shine Hair Design in Sherrard Street.

Colin said: “Her customers used to follow her around to the various salons. She was quite a quiet person really but she actually really liked meeting people.”

Pauline, who had four grandchildren and three step-grandchildren, also worked at a number of other Melton businesses at various times, at B&H Printing, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, SJ Hair Salon and Rosella Fashions.

She was a member of Melton Ladies Probus Club and Melton Flower Club and was a fundraiser for Sysonby Church.

Daughter Luci said: “Mum was very popular. She had so many friends in the town. She loved animals and doted on her grandchildren. This has all happened so quickly and everyone is devastated.”

A celebration of Pauline’s life will be held at Thorpe Arnold Church on Wednesday (March 29) at 11am, followed by a private burial at Sysonby Church. A wake will be held afterwards at Sysonby Knoll Hotel in Melton. Family flowers only are requested.