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David Aumonier, one of Northern Ireland's first `celebrity' hairdressers dies

His Facebook profile picture was changed on Sunday to an image of him and his wife at the Etihad Stadium
His Facebook profile picture was changed on Sunday to an image of him and his wife at the Etihad Stadium His Facebook profile picture was changed on Sunday to an image of him and his wife at the Etihad Stadium

ONE of Northern Ireland's first `celebrity' hairdressers - who cut the World Cup squad hair in the 1980s - has died.

The family of David Aumonier, who had been ill with cancer, announced that he died in his sleep yesterday morning.

Aumonier was a high profile hairdresser and a veteran of the business, working in the 1970s at `Maude's' in Connsbrook, east Belfast.

Known affectionately as `Mr Bangor', he later provided the hair styling for the 1982 and 1986 Northern Ireland World Cup squads when their training base was at Clandeboye Road football ground.

Yesterday former Northern Ireland midfielder Norman Whiteside took to his Twitter on hearing the news. "Very sad news to hear of the passing of David Aumonier, real gent, cut the mullets in the 80's RIP".

Aumonier also had popular Belfast city centre salons in Ann Street and Little Victoria Street.

Entering `semi-retirement' he was renting a chair in his previous salons, `HBTK' in Belfast and `Lawrain' in Bangor.

His wife Lawrain Aumonier had been keeping friends updated on his condition and spirits on her Facebook page, as recently as Monday posting the upbeat messsage: "Good morning lovely people David had a great day yesterday he's sleeping a lot but when he wakes he's smiling and loving all the kisses".

Yesterday, however, she revealed that he had died.

"Good morning lovely people , David passed away early this morning peacefully in his sleep surrounded be his loving family xx"

On her page, his daughter Paris said she could not "put into words how grateful we are as family for the support and love over these last few weeks, we are truly overwhelmed by the kindness shown by everyone".

"Thank you so much to everyone who has brought us food, not only did you feed us on days when we forgot eating was a thing but you allowed us to spend more precious time together as a family.

"Thank you to everyone who sent flowers, they brighten up our house and Dad loves the smell- you make us smile so much! Thank you to everyone who has wished us well or shared a story about my Daddy, knowing you all love him as much as i love him and hearing how he touched your lives brings me great happiness and I am so, so proud to call him my Dad."

Aumonie was a football fanatic, whose Twitter page bears the message: "Man City fanatic since 1967 so have seen City through all the bad days and now am entitled to enjoy the unbelievable !!!!

His Facebook profile picture was changed on Sunday to an image of him and his wife at the Etihad Stadium.

Fellow stylist Paul Stafford described him as "a colossus of a figure in hairdressing, an incredible charismatic, generous, loving family man".

Former BBC Northern Ireland presenter Alan Simpson also posted a moving tribute to his friend and said that 'the world has lost a shining light'.

He is survived by wife Lawrain and children Paris and Davis.