The Times They Are a Changin’- musician & brewer share St David’s Day Beard of Wales title

Beard Liberation Front

Press release, 28th February

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

 

The Times They Are A Changin’ -musician & brewer share St David’s Day Beard of Wales title

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that after several thousand votes in an on-line poll the result of the Beard of Wales 2015 has been declared a tie between Chris Fox, musician with the R&B band Thee Faction and Toby Copestake, brewer, with the new wave Welsh brewer, Celt Experience based at Llantrisant.

The poll aimed to determine the St David’s Day Beard of Wales, the Welsh beard that offers the most positive national image.

Welsh rugby star Jake Ball was third.

The campaigners say that Images of St David suggest that the Welsh Saint himself had an organic beard

Welsh rugby prop Adam Jones won the Award in 2013, voted for by BLF supporters, just shaving former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Another rugby player Leigh Halfpenny won in 2014.

It is only the third time the Award has been given following the traditional UK Beard of the Year at the end December each year and the BLF says it is a mark of Wales as a modern nation on St David’s Day that beards are now playing an increasingly significant role in national life.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said the fact that a musician and a brewer tied for the award of St David’s Day Beard of Wales shows how the nation is changing. Hipsters may not yet be a major feature of Welsh life but the stereotype of the clean shaven blazer is fading.

 

Beard of Wales 2015 Nominations

Jake Ball, rugby player

Toby Copestake, brewer, Celt Experience

Stephen Crabb, Parliamentarian

Paul Flynn-Parliamentarian

Chris Fox- musician

Leigh Halfpenny, rugby player

Tom Jones- musician

Gruff Rhys- musician

Rowan Williams-former Archbishop