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S the first lady of mid Cheshire's beauty scene prepares to leave the industry it is the perfect time to reflect on a career that has spanned almost four decades.

Claudia Woolrich, formally Stansfield, is the sort of woman who epitomises style and elegance, which probably goes a long way to explaining the reason behind why she has been so successful at running her own beauty business for the past 39 years.

But this month will mark the end of an era as Claudia, a former professional dancer, retires.

In today's image obsessed society beauty salons are nothing unusual, it is fair to say they are popping up all over the place.

However, when Claudia decided to open the first beauty salon in mid Cheshire, Beauty Boutique in Castle, attitudes were very different.

She said: "When I first started it was so different, women just didn't do these things. I mean if you went for an eyebrow shape you were being quite daring."

Twelve years after opening Claudia moved her business to her home on Chester Road and renamed it Braeside Beauty Centre, which later became a Clarins Gold Salon.

Claudia believes that part of her success lies in her ability to make and sustain good relationships with her clients.

She added: "You have to have a liking for people. In the salon we took a cross section of people, everybody was welcome and we treated everybody the same.

"I have one client who has been with me since I started here and she is still coming to me 30 years later."

Claudia began her career as a professional dancer as part of the Lonsdale Sisters, which comprised of Claudia and her cousins.

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he group featured on several TV shows alongside the likes of Max Bygraves, Alma Cogan and Julie Andrews.

In fact it was watching the make-up artists transform herself and the young Miss Andrews that inspired Claudia to pursue a career in make-up.

For some time Claudia juggled her time between dance and beauty. She opened the Claudia Stansfield School of Dancing and was the choreographer for Mid Cheshire Operatics for more than 27 years, a plaque commemorating her service to the society hangs proudly in her salon.

Juggling

Claudia also knows all about juggling her career with bringing up her two daughters Cheryl and Sharon, who both went on to become trained beauticians themselves.

Claudia will celebrate her golden wedding anniversary to Tony next year and it is his strong backing that has helped her along the way.

She said: "Tony has always been so supportive, I don't think I could have done half of the things I have done if he hadn't been there to support me."

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laudia's philosophy on beauty is that people should relax and recognise that everyone is different.

She added: "You shouldn't take it too seriously, instead just enjoy getting made up, enjoy going out and really enjoy whatever you are doing."

Braeside Beauty is finishing completely this month, which Claudia admits will be a sad day for her.

"It will be a tearful day, I suppose I would have liked someone to carry it on but as one of my clients said to me the other day you can't sell the business Claudia, you are the business."

Claudia is moving to Cuddington where she will continue to do occasional special treatments or wedding make-up.

And what will she miss most?

"I think I will miss chatting to the clients. I am a typical Gemini - a talker - I just really enjoy talking to people."

scorrigan@guardiangrp.co.uk