‘Nobody’s recognised him!’ Biker Brent loses his beard of 45 years for charity shave

A charity beard shave has left Brent Usher looking like a new man - to the point pals don’t even recognise him.

After sporting his trademark face fuzz for 45 years, Brent underwent his daring transformation cheered on by his biker mates at a party at his Whaplode home.

And his new look has already caught many out.

“I went in Co-op up the road and the girls there have known me for years, but they didn’t recognise me,” he explained.

“I had to say ‘it’s me’ and they couldn’t believe it.

“But it’s the same old me. And it’s growing back already, I want it back before winter or I’ll get cold otherwise.”

The decision to go clean shaven for the first time since he was a 15-year-old pupil at Spalding’s Gleed Boys School was in memory of stepson Karl Southgate, who tragically took his own life in 2022, aged 40.

So far more than £3,000 has been raised for mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - but there is no official total yet as money continues to roll in.

The sponsored shave and raffle - including a number of items donated by businesses in South Holland and beyond - raised £1,675 on the day while a further £1,643 has also been donated via a JustGiving page.

“We won’t know the full amount until a couple of weeks’ time as people who couldn’t make it said they’ll pop over and see me and donate,” Brent added after the beard shave which took place on August 31.

“I’m hoping it will be in excess of £4,000.”

Looking to maximise fundraising potential, Brent agreed not to shave his moustache after someone sponsored him £140 to keep it.

His eyebrows went after pals agreed to cough up £20 for brow while youngsters, including Brent’s grandkids, had the chance to have a go at hacking away the hair with the razor for a fiver a pop.

The day began with Brent and mates from biker clubs including Divergence, Lincolnshire Thunder, Iron Horse, Devil’s Misfits, Hell’s Angels and the Flatlands Drifters hitting the roads for a three-hour rideout, before returning to his home here the barbecue and cake stall were set up.

With a soundtrack of live rock music, the party soon got into full swing.

“It was an unbelievable day,” Brent added.

“We had a rideout, about 60 bikes, then we came back and the car park was full.

“The place was packed with people I’ve not seen for years and years.

“We had food out, and drink. We all had a good night. It went on until the next morning.”

Brent has been with wife Tracy for 10 years and, despite the couple knowing each other for a lot longer, a picture of Brent as a child at their family home was the only time she had previously seen him without the beard.

“He looks very different but it’s absolutely fine and. like he said, it’ll grow back,” she said.

“In the street normally Brent knows everyone, but nobody’s recognised him whatsoever.”

Also getting into the two-wheeled spirit is family friend Billy Trevey who is currently cycling the 2,000km length of Vietnam to raise additional funds.

You can sponsor Brent by visiting here and Billy by visiting here.

Anyone seeking help can contact the CALM hotline on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight daily).

Samaritans offer FREE round the clock, confidential support to anyone that wants to talk through their problems. Call Samaritans on 116 123, calls are free from any phone, or visit www.samaritans.org to find out about the wide-ranging support on offer from Samaritans and other organisations.