A retired police officer and former local mayor is 'braving the shave'.

Andy Barratt has recruited hairdresser Vinny Brennan to support the annual Macmillan coffee morning in Congleton.

This year's event will see Andy, a former Macclesfield Rugby Union FC player, lose his hair, beard and eyebrows. 

Andy, who is the charity steward for the Freemasons of Eaton Lodge who meet in Congleton, will undergo his 'defenestration'' at 11am on Friday, September 26, 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."

Congleton-based hairdresser Vinny Brennan (Credit: James Browne)

Andy 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.

He said: "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.

To support Andy's fundraiser, visit the Macmillan website here.