The big dreadlock chop

MORE than £2,600 was raised by a bar manager in Henley who cut off his dreadlocks.

James Hoye, 31, had grown his hair out over 12 years, with the longest measuring 3ft 8in.

About 70 people gathered at Echoes Henley in Gardiner Place, where he works, on Sunday to take part in the “big chop”.

Mr Hoye had organised the event to raise money for the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre in Reading, which supports his father-in-law Steve Barnes, 63, from Tilehurst.

The centre has supported him for nine years, due to him having a degenerative neurological condition.

Mr Hoyle raffled off dreadlocks for people to cut off and excitement grew as he was sat down on a chair ready for his haircut.

Family, friends and bar regulars all crowded round him and gave him words of encouragement while many got out their mobile phones to take pictures and video.

Echoes also did a live video stream on its Instagram page.

When it was over, Mr Hoye was given huge cheers while his family hugged and kissed him. There was a competition to guess the total weight of the dreadlocks, which weighed 567 grams. Mr Hoye said: “The build-up is always worse than the actual thing. It feels lighter and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do with it.

“I’m glad it was done for such a great cause and so many people came to support me, it was really something special.

“There’s been a lot of me looking at myself in the mirror as it’s very much new territory for me but I am getting more and more used to it.”

Mr Hoye has been growing his dreadlocks since he was a student at Portsmouth University studying TV and film. A friend, who had dreadlocks, showed him and his then girlfriend, now wife, how to put them in.

He would wash them about once a month using baby shampoo and his wife Coral, would help smarten them up for any formal events.

Mr Hoye’s hair even inspired his father, Kevin Hoye, 59 to try and do the same but admitted that he was sad to see his son’s dreadlocks go as he had had them for so long.

Mr Hoye Snr said: “I always wanted dreadlocks when I was a teenager but he had them first.

“They became a part of who he was, but it was a great moment to see the big chop and for it to be for a really good cause too.”

Mrs Hoye said her husband had been nervous the night before but she was excited to see his curly hair come back.

She said: “He’s got quite curly hair, so I am excited for it to go back to that. But he had a moment last night when he was thinking he still wanted them but because he was doing it for charity, he knew he wanted to do it, I’m really proud of him.”

Mr Hoye has not got round to styling or cutting his hair properly yet but has kept it short on the sides and long at the top.

He has thanked alll the people who donated. Mr Hoye added: “It was very overwhelming how many people came, including regulars. I was glad that I had a lot of friends and family too, so it made it more of an event. I just have to make sure I thank everyone now.

“I’m looking into options for what to do with the dreadlocks, but I haven’t quite decided what to do with them yet.”

Tamzin Cordery, an events and community fundraiser at Berkshire MS Therapy Centre, said the funding will be vital for its services.

She said: “We’re always grateful for people’s support through do-it-yourself fundraisers to support the centre so we can support local people living with MS in Berkshire and surrounding areas, as we totally rely on funding.”

Ms Cordery added that the funding would go towards providing physio and oxygen therapy.

“It will allow us to give a lot of treatment, which is really important”, she said. “It will make a huge difference to our members, so all the support like this is appreciated.”

To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/page/james-cuts-off-his-hair