A MANE man in the rugby world has lost his flowing lockdown locks for charity in a sponsored head shave given by his god-daughter.

Former Gloucester and Worcester Warriors professional player Lee Fortey, who comes from Newent, let his hair grow long during lockdown, but was diagnosed with bowel cancer five months ago.

The dad-of-five has now been given the all clear by doctors, and decided to give something back

by going under the razor for charity, raising more than £8,100 for Macmillan Cancer Support from the shave, which took place on Saturday at god-daughter Beth Broady’s brand new salon which opened that day in Newent’s Broad Street.

Lee, who also played for Newport and recently coached Lydney RFC, has been helped by Macmillan since the diagnosis last October.

And the former prop forward said: “I thought I’d give something back to Macmillan because they’ve been great. They were there straight away and they helped me through it.

“From my point of view it’s more about awareness, getting the message out because as blokes we don’t talk about it.

“But I’m going to miss my hair to be honest!

“I’ve been growing my hair for just over two years. When the first lockdown came in I said to my wife ‘I’m going to grow my hair to see what happens’, then carried on growing it. It’s been a bit of a standing joke.”

He added that he was recovering well since being diagnosed, with the tumour taken out and follows up showing it hadn’t spread.

“I didn’t need any further treatment which is a blessing really,” said Lee, whose brother Chris was also a top-class player and is currently chief coach at Lydney RFC.

He is donating his chopped locks to Little Princess Trust, which provides children and youngsters undergoing cancer and other treatment who have lost their own hair.

Beth, 21, who like Lee went to school in Newent, said she was “nervous” before the chop, because “he’s such a big character”, but also felt “honoured” to be asked.

The fully qualified hairdresser has taken on the salon run by her cousin’s Nan, who closed at the start of lockdown, and says she is starting by doing hair for ladies, men and children before expanding the salon’s offering.