AFTER running one of Minehead’s leading hair salons for more than 20 years, Dan James is hanging up his comb and scissors to become a professional corporate and community fund-raiser.

Dan said: “I have been at the Something Else salon in Summerland Road for 24 years, owning it for 20, and admit it will be a great wrench to leave.

“But I have always had a passion for fund-raising and helping others and at 41 I thought it was time to take on a new challenge which hopefully will make a difference.”

Dan will join the Taunton-based mental health charity Mind in Somerset in January, but intends to continue the good work he has been doing in Minehead over the past 17 years with Mr SE Support Services, which will provide help ranging from dog-walking and shopping to companionship and IT support. 

He said: “Charity fund-raising has become part of my life and I will still be organising lots of events in the Minehead area.

“One possibility is a sponsored walk from the salon to my new job in Taunton.”

Over the years, Dan’s Mr SE Events team has raised thousands of pounds for good causes and local charities and ran a support service for the housebound during the Covid pandemic.

Events have included fund-raisers which brought top sportsmen to Minehead, and a 24-hour winter sleep-out to highlight the problems of the homeless.

Dan will be handing over the Something Else salon to 22-year-old Alana Buck on December 1 but will stay on as a consultant until the end of the year.

He will also continue to run the Mr SE hair care product range.

Dan said: “MIND is a fantastic organisation which I have admired, and dreamed of working for, for a long time.

“I am excited about getting started and helping with the great work that they do - I completed a qualification earlier this year in understanding children and young people’s mental health.”

“I was 21 when I took over the business and now Alana is doing it at 22.

“I have spent a lot of time with her over the last few months and I know she will do very well and take very good care of my clients.

“I will be very sad to leave the salon after all these years, but I am also happy to be leaving it in capable hands.”

Alana, whose family live in Minehead, completed her training at Taunton’s hair academy and has been working in Dulverton.

She said: “I am really excited to be taking this next step in my career and I cannot wait to meet the existing and new clients.”