Hairdressing icons: joshua galvin

Joshua Galvin's prestigious career spanned 57 years, beginning in 1953 when, aged just 15, he gained a place at a trade school - later to become the London College of Fashion - from where he graduated with qualifications in men's and ladies' hairdressing. 

Joshua's early career took him from London to the US and back to London again in time for its sixties heyday. It was during this period that Joshua joined the team at Vidal Sassoon, where he was to have a major influence, not just on the company's creative output, but on its educational offering.

During his 13 years with Sassoon, Joshua established the Vidal Sassoon School in London's Knightsbridge - attracting students from across the globe.

Joshua's passion for education continued throughout his life, with the formation in 1982 of the Joshua Galvin Academy, in association with Central Training. 

In 2011, the year Joshua lost his battle with cancer, the academy was attracting some 1,500 students at any one time across five sites. During his career Joshua received numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fellowship for British Hairdressing in 2002 and the Fellowship's first ever Gold Medal in 2006.