Charity chief praises ex-bobby who’s ‘Braving the Shave’ for Macmillan

Hairdresser Vinny Brennan has been recruited by Andy Barratt, a retired policeman, to support the annual Macmillan coffee morning in Congleton town centre.

This year’s event features “Brave the Shave” which means Andy, a former Macclesfield Rugby Club player, losing his hair, beard and eyebrows. 

Andy is the charity steward for the Freemasons of Eaton Lodge, who meet in Congleton. He used to be an Odd Rode councillor and was a Congleton Borough mayor during the local government era leading up to the creation of Cheshire East Council 16 years ago.

His “defenestration” will start at 11.00 am on Friday September 26th at the Masonic Hall in Mill Street, just round the corner from Vinny’s hair lounge.

The Relationship Fundraising Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, Matt Smith, revealed why the lodge has a meaningful reason for supporting the charity.

He said:

"We want to say a huge thank-you to Andy Barratt for braving the shave for Macmillan, in memory of three members of Eaton Lodge – and two members’ wives – who were lost to cancer, all of them much missed.

“It will be a great morning at the Masonic Hall and the money raised will help us do whatever it takes to help people living with cancer.

“Thank you to everyone who is taking part. We are so grateful for your support.”

Said Andy:

“Matt’s words are encouraging and appreciated. Anybody is welcome to come along on the day and support this deserving cause.

“We hope as many people as possible will be able to make it to watch Vinny shaving me. I hope people will give because most families have been affected by cancer one way or another.

“For example, a friend tells me he could not believe the extent of a wonderful caring attitude he and his wife experienced among the staff at The Christie when his wife underwent a successful operation for breast cancer.”

Andy’s fellow Eaton Lodge member, James Browne, a former Martini International Photographer of the Year, will be taking before-and-after pictures of Andy “Braving the Shave” and videoing Vinny snipping away.

Now a business mentor, James is also a national level martial arts exponent,

Andy is noted by friends for his wide range of emotive facial expressions so this assignment for James will be nothing like the more serene occasion on which he won the Martini award.

That was in the mid-1980s when he photographed the late Duchess of Kent opening the rheumatology until at Heywood Community Hospital in Burslem.

Vinny, a fitness enthusiast who lives In Biddulph, is soon moving home to Congleton, where he’s a member of Gymetc.

A keen runner, he plays squash at the Michelin Sports Facility in Trent Vale, Stoke.

ANYBODY who would like to give to the charity can do so here: 

Shave the Barratt

Eaton Lodge secretary Chris Tarr is happy to take a phone call on 07484 263 637 from anybody who would like to know more about Freemasonry.

Pictured - Snipping for Macmillan: Congleton hairdresser Vinny Brennan.

Photograph by James Browne