Tonbridge grandfather's eyebrows raise memorial cash

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THOUSANDS of pounds was raised towards a memorial to a former Tonbridge schoolgirl when her grandfather sacrificed his eyebrows.

Dave Hancock, 56, of St Mary's Road, had his head shaved on Wednesday August 26 – and was shocked to have his eyebrows waxed as well.

The event was held to raise money for a memorial to his 12-year-old granddaughter Hannah Hudson, who died in a car accident in Leeds in June.

Well-wishers and regulars gathered at Ye Olde Chequers Inn to watch and donate as Mr Hancock endured the painful surprise eyebrow waxing.

Mr Hancock, who works at the town's mail centre, said he had already collected around £1,100 towards the memorial.

"It was nerve-wracking on the day but I have done it before for Children in Need," he said of the head shave.

"I wasn't expecting the eyebrows but it is all for a good cause."

The postal worker is expecting to take his fundraising total to between £2,000 and £3,000 once all the money is collected.

Landlady at the High Street pub Anne Aspey, who organised the waxing, said she was pleased with how the event went.

She added: "It went really well, Dave had his eyebrows waxed and is looking quite frightful now. It was a great night and just nice to see everyone pull together when we're in a recession."

Mrs Aspey added that in addition to the removal of regular patron Mr Hancock's head hair, the pub had also laid on a raffle and karaoke all in aid of the cause.

And efforts are afoot to boost the fund for Hannah's memorial, with plans being made for a concert in the grounds of Tonbridge Castle later this month.

Mr Hancock said that a band and a barbecue have been arranged for the concert and he hoped to raise more funds at the event.

At present Mr Hancock was unsure about what form his granddaughter's memorial would take.

He said: "My daughter is leaving it to my granddaughter's schoolmates to make the final decision. I am just raising as much as possible and sending it to the school."

To donate money to the memorial you can go into Ye Olde Chequers Inn where there are charity boxes.