A BARRY Dock RNLI lifeboat volunteer and historical re-enactment enthusiast marked the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings on Friday, October 14, in a unique style.

Ben Phillips, in Hastings this weekend taking part in an anniversary re-enactment of the most famous battle in British history, instructed his barber to give him a ‘Norman soldier’ rather than a short back and sides – raising funds for the RNLI.

The eye-catching style - depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry with no hair on the back of the head at all – has already raised more than £500 for the charity.

But if the final total exceeds £800 he and the two historical society colleagues he roped into getting the same haircut will have to go about their lives with the new look for a whole month.

Be, a senior member of Household Anglo-Norman Living History Society, an RNLI education volunteer delivering vital sea safety messages to school children and other young people.

He is also volunteer lifeboat crew member at Barry Dock RNLI and his family have a long history of service with the station.

Mr Phillips said: ‘I want to raise money for the RNLI as it is a charity very close to me. My great grandfather and his brother were both crewmen, my dad is a second coxswain, I am an education volunteer and joined as lifeboat crew earlier this year.

“The RNLI is an amazing charity that works 24 hours, every day of the year to prevent loss of life and to help those in need on our coast and at sea. This lifesaving work is funded almost entirely from the generous donations of our supporters and money is always needed for equipment for the crews, fuel for the lifeboats and to build and maintain the lifeboats and associated infrastructure.

“As this year is the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, I wanted to mark it in a special way, and how could I do better than raising money for a charity that I love.

“I'd like to thank Chaps Barbers in Battle for the haircuts. They kindly did them for free so all proceeds can go to the RNLI.”

RNLI community fundraising manager, Jen Abell said: “I have seen all kinds of fundraising initiatives for the RNLI, but Ben’s has to be one of the most memorable I’ve come across.

“I urge as many people to donate to the RNLI as possible and then Ben will have to keep his new style until next month at least.

‘To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Norman-Haircut