Congleton MP Sarah Russell has led tributes to Eaton Lodge charity steward Andy Barratt following a successful and ongoing fund-raising effort at a Macmillan “Brave the Shave” Coffee Morning.

He organised the Macmillan morning in memory of three lodge members and two members’ wives who lost their lives to cancer.

One of many Macmillan volunteers in the Congleton area, Andy chose an initial target of £300 but he is dramatically exceeding expectations. More than twice that was raised so quickly the goal is now £3,000.

Now that he has had his hair, beard and eyebrows shaved off to create what he says some are calling his “Uncle Fester” look, funds are flowing into Macmillan’s Andrew Barratt Just Giving page.

Andy used to be a prop forward with Macclesfield and Congleton rugby clubs.

Several Macmillan events happened across Congleton and the MP said: “Thank you to everyone who has been attending, baking for, or hosting Macmillan coffee mornings. It’s such a caring community.

“Andy is an inspiration, and I’d like to thank both him and Vinny for the money they are raising.”

Said Andy: “Some people say I remind them now of Uncle Fester from The Addams Family, but I like the bald look on top. I’m going to keep my head the way it is and re-grow the beard.”

There was much discussion among interested onlookers inside Congleton’s Masonic Hall about how a 20-year-old hairdresser, Vinny Brennan, went about perfecting the brave shave.

Vinny already has his own hair lounge in Congleton town centre. His mother Amy was watching, and she explained: “Vinny was my apprentice when I ran a hair salon and he did his first charity shave in aid of The Little Princess Trust when he was 15.

“He was a quick learner. Two years later Vinny was the first winner of the Quif Center Stage Award in 2022, something which celebrates the artistic skill, stage presence and social talent of hairdressers across the UK and. I am very proud of the hairdresser he has become.”

Andy’s effort also earned the approval of the National Association of Retired Police Officers, of which he is a member.

Said NARPO district secretary Archie Arbuckle: “Andy must be a popular guy in Congleton. Donations have poured in from the start even though many people were waiting to see the before and after pictures before giving.”

“Well done Andy. All your colleagues at NARPO are proud of you.”

Andy is a former Odd Rode councillor and was Congleton borough mayor in the local government era before the formation of Cheshire East Council.

His fellow lodge member, former Worshipful Master James Browne, took the pictures. James, a business mentor,  is a national level martial arts exponent.

He used to be a photographer and in the mid 1980s took pictures of the late Duchess of Kent opening the rheumatology unit at Heywood Commnunity Hospital in Burtslem.

His coverage of the event led to James being chosen as the Martini International Phtographer of the Year.

If you’d like to help raise vital funds for people living with cancer, you can do so by clicking the link below.

If you’d like to help raise vital funds for people living with cancer, you can do so here:

Shave the Barratt

At the time of writing, the before and after pictures had not made it online to the Just Giving page.

But anybody who would like to give can see the amount they donate immediately added to the running total.

At the time of writing, the before and after pictures had not made it online to the Just Giving page.

But anybody who would like to give can see the amount they donate immediately added to the running total.

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*It’s easy to join in and donate to Macmillan Cancer Support to raise vital funds for people living with cancer.

Go on Macmillan’s Brave the Shave website and search Andrew Barratt on the ‘Donate to a shave’ search tool.

At the time of writing, the before and after pictures had not made online to the Just Giving page.

But anybody who would like to give can see the amount they donate immediately added to the running total.