Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I was lucky enough to meet HRH Prince Philip at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party this year. He is the Patron of the Chartered Society of Designers and I had been invited to the party due to my involvement with them. On hearing that I was a designer he laughed saying 'Well you are obviously not a hirsute designer!' and pointed at my small but perfectly formed soul patch. He took great delight in mocking my 'poor frustrated beard' and urged 'If you are going to grow a beard, grow a beard!'

Somehow this story made it into the national press namely the Mail on Sunday, and has also been covered in news round-ups on Sky News, News of the World, Ceefax and Radio 2 - which either proves that we all love Prince Phillip, love beards, or that it was a very slow news day! The picture to the left was taken as part of the www.someoneoncetoldme.com website.

Eager to make the most of this unexpected interest in my facial hair I have decided to do as the great man says and 'grow a beard!'

My company Bonfire Creative Intelligence are proud to support Keech Cottage and all they do for children with life limiting conditions. I would love my hairy adventures to raise them some cash so I am pledging to keep growing my beard, by Royal request, until the 5th November. I think £2000 would make the the long hot itchy days of a beardy summer worth it, but if you want to give more then please do!

You can read more of the story at:

First coverage in Mail on Sunday.

Second Coverage in Mail on Sunday.

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