A Wessex Beardsman: Andy Teague

W G  Grace, Sebastian Cabot, Sir Walter Raleigh and Charles Dickens all had two things in common – they all hailed from Wessex and they all sported fine beards.

Andy Teague is another Wessexman who knows a thing or two about beards. Having always had some form of facial hair since the age of 16 and spurred on by Whisker Wars, he joined the British Beard Club and started competing in Beard and Moustache competitions – the rest is history…

Today, Andy holds the position of Vice Chair for the British Beard and Moustache Championships as well as Chief Beard of the Wessex Beardsmen, the south west area thatch of the British Beard Club. A man following his bearded dream…..sigh.

We tracked him down to chat family, life and obviously, beard.

Thank you for talking beard with us! Can you tell us about your work with TBBC?

I joined The British Beard Club in 2012 after seeing Whisker Wars on the TV. I never knew beard clubs existed, let alone TBBC. Beard and Moustache competitions looked great fun and I thought it would be cool to get involved. I found out about TBBC through The World Beard and Moustache Association’s website and the rest is history. For about a year I was in charge of TBBC’s Facebook page and I run The Wessex Beardsmen, the south west area thatch of TBBC.

You have recently been invited to sit on the committee for the British Beard Championships (to be held in Bath in September) – how did this come about?

Over breakfast on the Sunday morning after The World Beard and Moustache Championships. I was chatting with David Dade, president of TBBC, who told me that if there was to be a British Beard and Moustache Championships in 2014, someone needed to get it rolling. I kickstarted the committee with David’s help and became Vice Chair.

Can you tell us about the Championships and how anyone who is interested in competing can get involved?

TBBMC’12 in Brighton was great fun. Everybody had a good time and the atmosphere was fantastic. People catch up with old friends (and make new ones), have a few beers and show off their facial hair. Most people don’t take it too seriously. This year it’s happening on September the 13^th at Bath Pavilion. If anyone wants to get involved it is open to everyone and you can buy tickets, or register as a spectator at tbbmc.co.uk

You organised an event for The Make-A-Wish Foundation UK last year – do you have any plans to do the same in 2014?

The Wessex Beardsmen hosted their first Beard and Moustache Competition last July. It was very well attended and helped us raise £1000 in total last year for The Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, a charity close to my heart, who granted a wish to my daughter when she was very ill recently. We aren’t having a competition this year because of TBBMC’14, but, plans are very much under way for next year, so watch this space!

What do you do when you’re not in beard mode?

I’m a Dad, I have four children from 10 months up to 11 years and old. I play the Bass guitar, enjoy live music and I work for a domestic appliance manufacturing company in the research and development department.

What are your views on the rise in popularity of the beard? Have you always been bearded yourself?

To quote Bryan Nelson, President of The Austin Facial Hair Club – ‘All Facial Hair is valid’, Whether you have a short neatly trimmed beard, a handlebar moustache or a full beard down to your knees. Personally, I’m happy to see so many people embracing their facial hair positively. I’ve been bearded since I was about 16 years old. I’ve had goatees, sideburns, neatly sculpted beards and currently I have a full, untouched beard, which started as a goatee, but I haven’t touched a razor, or trimmed any part of it since last November after The World Beard and Moustache Championships in Germany.

How do you maintain your own facial hair? Do you have any tips you can give our readers?

I wash and condition it, but not too much, maybe every three or four days, I oil it frequently and I try to keep it out of harms way. I’m a keen BBQ chef and do a lot of welding, so protection is key. The main advice I’d give anyone reading this would be to be kind to your beard, look after it and be happy with what you have. It’s your beard, no-one else’s, so enjoy it!

If you’re feeling lazy, do you have a favourite barber or hairdresser?

I don’t! I haven’t cut my beard since I joined TBBC, I’d rather not put my beard in the hands of anyone else! In the past, I have entered ‘freestyle’ categories, when I do, my partner Becca does my styling. She is the only person I trust!!

Is your beard for life?

My beard may change, it might disappear but only to grow another. I’m not one of those who is totally against shaving, I think ‘starting again’ is sometimes a fun thing to do. But, one way or another, I’ll always have facial hair!

Who is your ultimate bearded hero and why?

This is a hard one. Since a young age, I’ve always taken notice of peoples beards. I had a few uncles with beards and my Grandfather used to tell me that my ‘Great Grandfather Benjamin used to have a full set down to his chest’. There are a lot of great beards in the bearding community as well as on tv, media and music but, I guess my inspiration, although I never met him, comes from ‘Great grandfather Benjamin’, so we’ll call him my Bearded Hero!

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Main image: bertsphotography.com