Trevor’s a true sport

Paul Watson, Oldham Community Leisure manager, begins to trim Trevor Smith’s beard

Beard today, gone tomorrow for leisure boss

IT WAS a case of beard today, gone tomorrow for one sports centre manager who marked his early retirement by shaving off his face fuzz.

Trevor Smith, former manager at Failsworth Sports Centre, has sported a beard during his 35-year career with Oldham Council.

But he decided to reach for the razor and shave it all off to mark his early retirement as well as raise funds for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Mr Smith (57) said: “I thought it would be a fun way to leave by having my beard shaved off at the staff farewell party, and raise some cash for Dr Kershaws in the process.”

Mr Smith, who lives at Thorp Farm, Royton, started his career as the manager of Royton Swimming Pool in 1975 and has managed all the pools and sports centres in Oldham at some point.

He now plans to spend his time working on his farm, growing vegetables and keeping chickens.

Friends and colleagues who donated cash during the sponsored shave helped raise a total of £260 for the hospice.

Steve Eyre, marketing and promotional manager, said: “When he decided to take early retirement, he wanted to do something a bit different to mark the occasion.

“I’ve worked with Trevor since 1975 and have never seen him without a beard so to see him clean shaven was strange but he didn’t look to bad. I think he was pleased with the result.”