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Mike calling crowds to witness the 'evil deed'

Mike's New Image

October 19th 2002 was something of a 'hair-raising' or should we say, 'beard-raising' experience for Mike. Following a promise Mike had made to local hairdresser and fundraiser for Crohn's Disease, Alan Cresswell, Mike made himself and his beard available at high noon for his appointment with "Sweeney Todd" himself.

The Methodist Church had kindly agreed to allow the de-bearding to take place just inside their grounds, and a goodly crowd of wellwishers assembled to see the evil deed done. Matt Peacock of BBC Radio Gloucestershire had kept the county informed during his Saturday morning programme. Mike admits that the site of the old fashioned cut-throat razor almost made him change his mind, but he bravely went through with it.

The event was even reported in Tewksbury, Massachusetts in their newspaper, 'The Town-Crier', where Mike has an occasional column..

Alan Cresswell starts the process...		...and out comes the razor and foam

In fact, an accidental slip of the razor shed some of our beloved Crier's blood. The local media who were there in force eagerly pounced on this slip of the blade.

The Landlord of the Berkeley Arms quipped, 'I always said you were a bare faced crier!', while Vernon Harwood, of BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Breakfast Show, joked 'You look all of twenty seconds younger now you've had your beard off!'

Anyway, the chin that had not seen the light of day since 1984 looks like it will be on permanent display as Mike has no intention of growing back the facial fungus.

Mike enjoying a pint in the Berkeley Arms with his daughter, Sarah, after the excitement of the day.

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tewkesburycrier@tiscali.co.uk
Tel: 01684 276327