Personnel at RNAS Culdrose cultivated some festive fundraising facial fuzz last month in support of a national bowel cancer campaign.

The men joined the Decembeard campaign, growing out their facial hair as part of a national movement to raise awareness of the disease.

At the end of the month, those taking part competed against each other to see who would win the title of best beard, longest beard, and most original beard.

The finalists who lined up in the station's gym were Lieutenant Commander Kevin Roffey, Lieutenant Shaun Parker, Lieutenant Commander Neil Bennetts, Naval Airman Stephen Cameron, Warrant Officer Rick Hassall and Major D’Arcy Giguere.

Lieutenant Commander Bennetts won the longest beard award, Lieutenant Parker had the best beard, and Major Giguere was awarded for the most original beard.

Whilst the event was a light hearted one, the significance of raising the profile of the disease was important to the naval base, particularly as someone in the UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes.

Lieutenant Commander Bennetts said: “Last year the base took part in Movember. This year during the festive season, some of the beards, particularly mine, may have looked like we were entering a Santa lookalike competition.

“However on a serious note, cancer does affect all of us in one way or another. By taking part in Decembeard we are helping to promote bowel cancer awareness, which we felt was extremely important. So far we have managed to raise £350 and hope to raise more throughout the year.”