A HAIRY hero’s welcome home is being laid on for Dartmouth soldier Cayle Royce who led the Row2Recovery team of amputee rowers across the Atlantic ocean.
Friends at the Dolphin Inn in Market Street – who have been growing beards since Cayle set out on the epic row before Christmas – are planning a celebratory reception for the serviceman on Friday, February 19.
The group of six, plus manager Jon Pope, will be losing their bushy growth in a charity shave-off.
But they admit it might not be as easy to get Cayle to part with his shaggy look.
‘Growing a beard seemed pretty easy compared to what Cayle was going through,’ said Jon.
‘But we wanted to support him and will be raising money for good causes on the night with a few rum punches and a sponsored shave off.’
Ben Perry of the Village Barbers Shop in Dartmouth will have his work cut out as he sets to remove lengthy days growth from Jon and regular customers Chris Gale, Stuart Longrigg, Matt Pink, Scott Hill, Adrian Bailey, Carlos Minto and Dean McCormack.
The welcome back will also be a birthday surprise for Cayle who is 30 years old on Wednesday.
Cayle and his crew have spent more than 45 days at sea on the 3,000 mile race. On arrival in Antigua last Thursday, the team received a congratulatory video call from Prince Harry on their ‘incredible achievement’.
More on this story in this week’s Chronicle