A BUSINESSMAN who has had his beard for 10 years has shaved it off all in the name of charity.

Simon Biltcliffe, who runs printing firm Webmart, in Wedgwood Road, Bicester, had his beard shaved off to raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Mr Biltcliffe and friend Tony Jones, of Stratton Audley, near Bicester, took part in the Polar Circle Marathon, in Greenland, and the pair jointly raised £20,000 for the charities.

It was on his return that colleague Will King, founder of shaving products firm King of Shaves, offered Mr Biltcliffe an extra £250 for the appeal if he would lose his beard.

The deed was done on Friday, October 29, at the Cutting Room, London. Afterwards, Mr Biltcliffe said: “I’m told I look 10 years younger, which is quite scary as I still look 45.”

Mr King said “I was one of the judges for the Institute of Directors’ Director of the Year 2010 awards, and voted Simon top in his category which he won.

“At the awards in London, we got chatting about his Polar Circle Marathon.

“I wanted to help in his quest to raise money for charity and thought what better way to help than to challenge him to shave off his beloved beard with King of Shaves for charity.”