THE world’s oldest facial hair society has met in Bournemouth for the first time.
Members of The Handlebar Moustache Club gathered at the Carlton Hotel this weekend for their annual meet up.
The men- and their moustaches- had travelled from all over for the event, which takes place at a different location each year.
The meet ups are a chance for the group to socialise, drink beer, and celebrate their impressive displays of facial hair.
Speaking from the hotel on Saturday morning, group member Ryan Pike said: “It’s something a bit different, and it’s our first time in Bournemouth.
“We always try to put our apologies on social media for descending onto the town.”
The Handlebar Moustache Club was first founded in April 1947 at The Windmill Theatre in London.
They say to qualify for a membership, you must have a “hirsute appendage of the upper lip, with graspable extremities”.
Since launching, the group have made efforts to hold annual meet ups every year across a range of different locations.
Members of the group told the Daily Echo how on visits, they are often stopped in the streets by people who want to have pictures with them and their moustaches.
Ryan said: “The meet ups are generally organised by our club secretary and president.
“It varies how many people come to them. We always have our die-hards here.
“One member has come all the way from Sweden for this one.”
The Handlebar Moustache Club choose a charity or cause to fundraise for at each meet-up, and this year, they have chosen to support a Poole man Michael Marsh.
Michael has been fundraising for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, after surgeons there successfully removed the cancer from his bladder and prostate using the hospital’s surgical robot.
The Handlebar Moustache Club have pledged to donate £250 to Michael’s Just Giving page, which is being directed to the hospital’s urology department.
To find out more about The Handlebar Moustache Club visit their website at handlebarclub.co.uk.
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