The Handlebar Club Darts Team in action

The annual darts match versus the Pipe Club of London will take place at the Windsor Castle pub in Crawford Place, London on the evening of the next First Friday (4th November). The First Friday meeting starts at the usual time of 7.30pm with the darts commencing at 9.30pm.

As in previous years we will be raising money for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, a charity that has become very close to club members' hearts.

TashAlaska - Click the picture for more information

TashAlaska - A documentary about the world of competitive facial hair premières on Wednesday 19th October from 7:30pm at the Portobello Pop Up Cinema in London. The movie follows competitors in Brighton, Norway and Alaska; Handlebar Club members and those from The British Beard Club appear in the film. Click on the TashAlaska logo for more information.

Steve Parsons

When Anthony met Anne...
Anthony: "Anne, have you seen what I've got in my hand?"
Click on the picture and scroll down past Anne on the bus to see what it is.

Steve Parsons

Unfortunately it's my sad duty to let you know that Handlebar Club Friend Andy Nelson died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Thursday last week after a long illness.

Those of you who attended the Edinburgh AGM in 2009 will remember Andy and Leanne from that event. Andy also suggested the AGM venue and trip to Buckler's Hard for the annual get-together in 2010.

At Andy's suggestion The Handlebar Club have recently supported The Fountain Centre, an independent charity based in the St Luke's Cancer Centre at Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford that supports people living with cancer.

The Celebration of Andy's Life will commence at 1pm on Friday 12th August at Guildford Crematorium, New Pond Road, Godalming, GU7 3DB.

Steve Parsons

CLICK HERE

The 'parents' of 13 year old Johnny recently visited the Windsor Castle pub in Crawford St. and were inspired to get in touch with the Handlebar Club to see whether he could join as a member - so what do YOU think? Click on the Handlebar Moustache above to see Johnny's picture. By the way, there is actually a 'Bushy' precedent for this...

Steve Parsons

Five go to Sweden, Norway and Hungary

Andy Lear returns! He reports on a group trip of multiple modes of transport taking in a Swedish Brewery, the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Trondheim, Norway and on to southern Hungary, 130 kilometres south-east of Budapest, to compete in their Moustache Festival.

Andy Lear

Handlebar Club members in the Norwegian National Day Parade

Tom Cutler reports on the recent World Beard and Moustache Championships held in the beautiful Norwegian city of Trondheim, where a magnificent cross-mingling of personalities, setose, pilose, styled, pearl-encrusted, and otherwise be-haired, met for a wonderfully friendly three-day knees-up.

Tom Cutler

STOP PRESS + + + Latest from Ken!

“Family and Friends,

Today I completed the 110 mile bike ride from Santa Cruz to King City in the central valley of California. It was tough, but I was able to keep an average speed of 20 MPH and hit 45 MPH on one downhill drive! Tomorrow is "Quad Buster Tuesday" and I think that means that all 66 miles is uphill? I may need an ambulance.......

I am off to bed now... ... there were parties at each of the 5 "Rest Stops" and characters dressed up to encourage fun. Thanks again for your support during this ride.

Ken” (Rider #5643)

+ + + ENDS

Ken Cantamout starts his AIDSLifecycle ride
from San Francisco to Los Angeles this weekend!

Handlebar Club member Ken Cantamout from California is planning to cycle the 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in just 7 days to raise money and awareness to fight HIV/AIDS and support those living with the disease.

Yes that's right, 545 miles! And apparently it's not all down hill.

Ken says, “I have joined the battle to end AIDS, and I will be riding for all club members. From June 5th through June 11th I will ride 545 miles on a bicycle as part of AIDS/LifeCycle 10. AIDS/LifeCycle is the only AIDS fundraising cycling event in California organized and co-produced by the beneficiaries. With your help, my fundraising efforts will help the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to prevent new HIV infections and provide services to those most impacted by this disease. Together we can make a difference!”

“Family & Friends,

In 48 hours I will be begin the AIDS/LifeCycle 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It is predicted to be a wet start (heavy rain Sunday morning) and I will be ready for the challenge. I want to thank everyone for your generous support and allowing me to raise over $5000.00 for this charity event. Depending on my physical condition at the end of each day I will try to share with you the daily highlights of this bike riding adventure.

Thanks again,

Ken Cantamout” (Rider #5643)

For more information on this extraordinary event please look at the AIDS/Lifecycle website www.aidslifecycle.org

And to support Ken's effort with a donation, please click on THIS LINK. Ken would be really grateful for your support and has promised to keep us posted on his progress.

Good luck Ken!
Steve Parsons

Matt and Jonathan's faces may land on your doorstep

On Thursday 14th April Handlebar Club members Jonathan M Halbert and Matt Raine aka Mr Natty added a dapper touch to a photoshoot for the Charles Tyrwhitt Autumn/ Winter 2011 new Suits range.

The shoot took place on the streets of old Spitalfields, East London. Mr Natty describes the scene.

Matt Raine

Jonathan Halbert and Ted Sedman at der Filderhalle

This event was held on the 19th March 2011 at der Filderhalle, in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, near Stuttgart, and was attended by six Handlebar Club Members. Jonathan Halbert reports on his and the Club's successful weekend.

Jonathan Halbert

Bryony Hamblin was very excited

As you can see Bryony Hamblin was very excited to make her first visit to a First Friday meeting at the Windsor Castle. Bryony and her fellow film students from South Wales are currently making a documentary about the Handlebar Club. They recently attended our AGM in York - driving from the Rhondda Valley to York, and back, in one day!

This visit to London was also a day trip; that's what I call commitment.

Steve Parsons

John Richardson accepts the cheque from Alex McBride

The Handlebar Club has donated £100 to The Scottish Veterans Association to assist the SVA with its activities. The Handlebar Club's Treasurer Alex McBride with his wife Ann, attended the Gulf Remembrance Luncheon on 19 March 2011, and Alex is seen here handing over the cheque to SVA Chairman John Richardson.

“I'm sad to announce the death of Club Member Keith Jefferson from Cumbria, who has died suddenly this week.

“Keith only joined the Handlebar Club in January 2009 but quickly became an active member attending our AGM weekends and notching up a notable success at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage Alaska, where he achieved second place in the Natural Moustache category.

“In his home town of Carlisle, Keith was also well known as the proprietor of Pink Panther Records which became a local institution mostly due to Keith’s musical passion and knowledge.

“Read more about Keith in the Cumbrian, News & Star.

“Keith’s funeral service will be on Thursday 14th April at Carlisle Cemetery Chapel at 11am, followed by interment in the cemetery.

“Our condolences go to Keith’s widow Sheila and his two sons Craig and Steven.”

Steve Parsons (Secretary)

Tandoori Knights and Maidens

On Friday 1 April 2011 Handlebar Club members, their partners and friends of the club arrived at the Hedley House Hotel in York for the AGM jamboree. Tom Cutler our newly-elected Scribe, reports on the weekend's events, including this colourful degustation, with pictures from himself and Dan Sederowsky.

Harriet in training for the Paris Marathon

Over the last few years the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is a charity that has become very close to our hearts here at the Handlebar Club.

Now Handlebar Club Friend (and the Secretary’s cousin) Harriet Maas is running her first Marathon in Paris, France this weekend to raise money for this important cause.

STOP PRESS!

Harriet completed the Paris Marathon in a time of 3 hours: 50 minutes: 56 seconds
and has raised over £1200 so far for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.

As a baby, Harriet was diagnosed with the rare and life threatening liver disease, Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, in which the body does not make enough protein to protect the lungs and the liver from damage.

“For some babies this can be fatal and others are left with lifelong disabilities,” says Harriet. “I am keenly aware that I am one of the lucky ones. Although I had to be resuscitated twice as a baby, I now live a full and healthy life – I just require annual check-ups. Many families are not so lucky however, and CLDF not only helps them to deal with the difficulties presented by childhood liver disease but helps fund vital research into its cause, so it's a very important charity to me.”

You can help Harriet towards her target by visiting www.justgiving.com/harrietmaas

For more information on CLDF visit www.childliverdisease.org

Steve Parsons

David Tomlinson - all round good sport

We get lots of strange phone calls at the Handlebar Club - but even we were surprised to be asked to audition for the 'Spice Girls'.

Of course the fact that the nation is currently gearing up for Comic Relief night should have given us a clue. Unfortunately we didn't have a lot of notice so the only brave soul that made it to the One Show studio on the night was part time Emma Bunton impersonator and all round good sport David Tomlinson.

David spent the afternoon dressing up in a pink T-shirt and matching mini skirt, shaving his legs and rehearsing his big number.
“I don't think I made the most convincing Baby Spice ever” said David later, “Notwithstanding the 'do something funny' tagline, this was as about as far as I would be willing to go on National TV.” he added.

Well we think that you're a star David and we love that wig.

If you'd like to show your appreciation of David's efforts then please make a donation at www.comicrelief.com/donate

Steve Parsons

William and his customer both cut a dash.

Albert enjoys a Christmas feast.

More and more Members of the Handlebar Club are being chosen for media appearances. William Brown is seen here masquerading as a typical Jermyn Street barber, while a delighful manicurist attends to the graspable extremities of a smart young man. Although he's in a very expensive suit from House of Fraser, he doesn't seem to mind that William hasn't offered him a cape, and his suit is getting covered with hair clippings!

Albert Tang is revealed at an M&S Christmas party, and William also reports appearances by himself and other illustrious members of The Club in the latest two-part Harry Potter movie, so look out for Mike Solomons in part one, and William and Albert Tang in the forthcoming part two.

The Norwegian Moustach-club of -91, the Host Club for The World Beard and Moustache Championships 2011 have finally opened their contestant registration procedure. The event takes place in Trondheim, Norway from 14th to 18th May 2011. Thanks to Ole Johan Løkberg of DNM-91 for this latest information:

The registration fee is NOK 250 or 250 Norwegian Kroner which is about £26.84 at the time of writing.

David Dade

The four 'gentlemen' - Noel, Steve, David, and Nicholas

Members of the Handlebar Club endorsing a Malt Whisky? Well, it makes sense doesn't it. When the manufacturers of Singleton© Single Malt Whisky wanted to run a series of advertisments featuring a number of eccentric clubs they didn't have to look much further than the Windsor Castle Pub and a well-attended First Friday meeting. Sending along a representative for a casting session they scoured the pub for appropriately stunning models... having failed to find any they settled on the four 'gentlemen' pictured. You can click the picture above to see the full-page advertisment.

Noel, David, Nicholas and myself were invited along to a 'pop-up' club in Soho Square for a photoshoot, appropriately enough in the bar. After being encouraged to sample and approve the peaty nectar, we enjoyed our first (and no doubt last) experience of modelling. We were sent away with a bottle each and in return for our participation in the campaign, the manufacturers Diageo made a generous £800 donation to Positive Futures - a charity "helping young people from deprived communities steer clear of crime, drug and alcohol misuse and move forward in their lives".

Steve Parsons

Sam Luff aspires to be Secretary of the Handlebar Club

Incumbent Handlebar Club Secretary Steve Parsons has received this photo-nomination for a forthcoming election of Club Secretary. Steve was told by Sam Luff (above) that he aspires to one day be Secretary of the Club, and his parents promptly put Sam in the picture.