A BARRHEAD barber has been praised for ‘braving the shave’ to raise more than £1,000 for a good cause.

Customers at the town’s Brig Inn paid to take turns at cutting Mustafa Tasdelen’s locks and shaving his head, with the proceeds going to Accord Hospice, in Paisley.

Fellow barber Ronnie Scott then stepped in to give the job a professional finish. 

There was also a raffle, with prizes donated by Mustafa, as well as the Brig Inn’s staff and customers, before the fun carried on with karaoke and plenty of dancing and singing.

“It was a brilliant day for a brilliant cause,” said 44-year-old Mustafa. “I used to work next to the Accord shop [in Main Street] years ago, so I got to know them and now I try to help in whatever way I can.

“There was a brilliant turnout, with customers and other people I know from the Brig, which is my local.

“The pub gave me a great opportunity to do it there, which was really appreciated. Everybody had a go at cutting my hair and I’m very proud of my new look.

“It’s as short as I had it about four years ago when I was in the Army as a team leader doing my national service in Turkey.

“If I get the opportunity and let my hair grow again, I will do it again. Thanks to everybody who came and helped and donated.”

Over the years, staff and customers at the Brig Inn, owned by William (Bud) Gauld and run by his daughter Nicola, have raised more than £30,000 for the hospice, which provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to residents in Barrhead, Neilston, Uplawmoor and Renfrewshire.

Nicola said that, given the pub’s long-standing connection with the hospice, she jumped at the chance to host the event for Mustafa.

“His customers really got behind him, handing in donations and looking forward to him braving the shave,” she added.

“We told him he could get it done in the pub to give everyone the chance to come along and watch him getting his hair shaved.

“As Accord Hospice is a cause very close to our hearts here at the Brig, and the charity we do most of our fundraising for, we thought we would get our customers involved too and help Mustafa with his fundraising.

“We organised a karaoke and raffle and, between Mustafa’s customers and our own, almost £1,300 has been raised so far, with donations still being handed into the barbers and the pub.

“It was a fantastic day. A huge well done to Mustafa.”