Coventry businessman Harold Smart's beard has been a double fund raiser for the Institution.

First of all he grew it, under the sponsorship of members of Coventry Rotary Club, during a three-week voyage from Lymington to Port Greneau, in the south of France. Mr Smart kept his whiskers until just before Christmas when he visited Jacksons the hairdressers where he announced he just wanted the starboard side of his face shaved.

For seven days he showed two different sides to the world before becoming clean shaven once more. The original target of raising £100 was eventually doubled..