British Beard Club

Saturday, February 27, midday, Queen's Head pub, Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford

http://thebritishbeardclub.org/

FACIAL hair is to the fore this Saturday as the British Beard Club holds its first meeting in Essex, gathering at the Queen's Head pub in Lower Anchor Street at midday.

The county's branch of the club, the Essex Beardsmen, features founding members of the organisation and they're hoping for a good turn out of hirsuite gentlemen.

Charlie Saville , brewer and one of the founders of the club, said:

"It's purely a social occasion and invariably there'll be beer involved.

"In Germany and the USA they have huge numbers in their beard clubs and they're very competitive. We're a bit more laissez-faire about beards but we should do something with the world championships coming up next year."

The World Beard and Moustache Championships are held every other year in different parts of the world. In 2007 they were held in Brighton, last year Alaska hosted them and in 2011 Norway will welcome hairy gentlemen from around the world.

"A few of us are trying to encourage youngsters into styling and competition-worthy stuff and not to be too affected by peer pressure and fashion.

"There was a time in Britain when there wouldn't be a single gentleman without a beard or moustache.

"You just need to have some sort of facial topiary to come along to the meeting. There are more and more men with facial hair about at the moment. The younger generation seem to admire a good beard."