David Beckham eat your heart out. Evening Gazette sports writer Francis Ponder has just had a £725 restyle - only the money from this "number one" is going to charity.
Francis, 59, decided it was time to have his silver locks clipped after fellow journalists and U's fans told him in no uncertain terms he needed a haircut.
Shear hell - Marie Partner, of Colchester United, above, gets a helping hand from John Pearce, of North Hill Barbers, as she starts on Francis Ponder's silver locks. Picture: NIGEL BROWN
Francis, who is known as Frannie, said: "When the Evening Gazette launched its second Sparkle Appeal, I thought why not a sponsored haircut? After all the grief I had been getting over my hair, I knew people would cough up!
"Now I can brag I have had a £725 haircut. Anything Becks can do, I can do better."
And he even had his own "stylist".
Francis promised the person who sponsored the most money would have the honour with the clippers. That went to Marie Partner, the U's chief executive, who pledged £50.
Second thoughts - Francis, above, wonders what he let himself in for. Marie, left, plays with the last locks before they get snipped. Picture: NIGEL BROWN
"There were certain U's players who wanted to have a go at my hair as revenge for comments I made about them in my reports but Marie came up with more money," he revealed.
"Seriously, I can't thank enough all those who sponsored me especially people in the Evening Gazette offices, the U's and friends in my village, Tolleshunt D'Arcy.
"And this isn't the end of my flowing locks as we speak, I can feel them growing back!"
The Evening Gazette has teamed up with the Tendring Trust for the Disabled to raise £25,000 to build an indoor riding centre in Clacton for children and adults.
The appeal will also mean the Trust can offer riding lessons to hundreds more disabled children and adults across north and mid-Essex than it can at the moment.
Do you want to organise an event to help the Sparkle Appeal? Contact reporter Simon Spurgeon on 01206 508413 or Nina Butler on 01206 508207
Published Friday, May 30, 2003
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