It's a close shave for Patrick

Published: 10:50 AM July 31, 2010 Updated: 7:14 AM October 7, 2020

IT'S taken years off him - and helped raise vital funds to help injured soldiers.Patrick Welsh is getting used to having a smooth face again after having his beard shaved off in aid of BLESMA (The British Limbless Ex-servicemen's Association).

IT'S taken years off him - and helped raise vital funds to help injured soldiers.

Patrick Welsh is getting used to having a smooth face again after having his beard shaved off in aid of BLESMA (The British Limbless Ex-servicemen's Association).

Mr Welsh, 30, of Watton, decided to start growing his beard in February when illness meant he was unable to carry on his training with the TA 254 Medical Regiment in Norwich.

'As I could not do the training and be deployed as part of the regiment I thought I would do something to help and raise money.'

You may also want to watch:

Mr Welsh's younger sons Aiden, nine, and Frazer, five, are pupils at Carbrooke Primary School, which has close links with the military and acting headmistress Rosie Newport did the shaving.

'It feels a bit odd and when I had had it done I realised how cold it was! I sent some pictures to BLESMA and they thought I looked 20 years younger!' said Mr Welsh.