Alec William Sado had been barber for almost 40 years in this shop at 7, St Mark’s Road, Mitcham. This photo was taken in 1975 by Eric Montague, the same year that Alec Sado passed away.

Clip of photo taken by Eric Montague in 1975. Reproduced by kind permission of the Merton Historical Society. Image reference mhs-em-ug-13.

The photo appears in Eric Montague’s book Mitcham Histories : 7 The Upper or Fair Green, on page 109.

Between the first floor windows, the sign “ESTB. 1905” (i.e. ‘Established in 1905’), may refer to when Alec’s father Louis started as a barber, when he was 24. The street directories show that in 1904 the occupant of no. 7 was Joseph SHEPHERD, corn dealer. From 1912 and 1925, it was occupied by H. TEDDER, hair dresser.

It was Alec’s father Louis who started cutting hair here, possibly between 1925 and 1930, as he is listed in the 1930 commercial directory. Louis died 1936, as shown in this London Gazette entry:

In the 1938 commercial directory, Alec William Sado is listed at this address.

Listed in 1969 Chamber of Commerce List as A.W. Sado at same address, no telephone number.

These photos are kindly provided by a family relative, from their family tree on Ancestry.

Louis Sado

Alec William Sado

Alec William Sado cutting hair. Date unknown. Note the poster in the top left hand corner: it may be for advertising boxing at Mitcham Baths.

A note about the surname ‘Sado’. Alec’s grandfather was born in Poland in 1854, and his surname was Sadokierski. He was also a barber. Alec’s father Louis was born in England in 1881. For more, see the entry on Ancestry.