A Darlington barber has been a familiar face in Cockerton for 16 years.
Jamie Maddison, owner of J. Maddison Barbers off West Auckland Road, has been nominated for The Northern Echo’s Best Barber Shop 2026 award.
The 47-year-old grew up in Newton Aycliffe and has spent more than three decades cutting hair, renting a chair, then tarting to work in Cockerton 16 years ago.
"We opened here at the time when my mam was poorly with cancer, and that made her proud before she passed away," she said.
The nomination, she says, feels like another way of honouring that.
"It would be absolutely lovely to win the competition, it would mean the world.
"It would be an honour, I've been in the trade for 16 years and it is nice that my clients think so much of me to put me forward for it."
Jamie has been heavily involved with the Cockerton Community Group for the past decade.
"It has been fun helping out and giving something back to the community, and a lot of customers know me from doing that," she said.
And inside the shop, she wants that sense of community to run through every appointment.
"We do everyone's hair, ladies, men, children.
"We are well known for having patience with children with additional needs too. We always make it as fun as we can."
Jamie sees the role as part-barber, part-listener – and part-local entertainer.
"We are good listeners, but we are better talkers.
"I could talk a glass eye to sleep.
"We are a community barbers, we talk to everyone the same and it is about having a laugh and having a bit of fun. That is why we like our jobs so much and it is what keeps us going."
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The Northern Echo has launched a search for the Best Barber Shop in our region – and readers are being asked to help crown the best of the best.
To vote for The Barber Shop, complete the form in your The Northern Echo newspaper and return it to: The Northern Echo Best Barber Shop 2026, LocalIQ House, 1 Dalston Road, Carlisle, CA2 5NP.
Voting will close on Wednesday, July 8.
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