I grew my beard when I was in submarines back in the 70s; washing wasn't an option whilst on patrol so it made sense to have a 'set'. I had to put a request in to the captain to 'Stop shaving.' and then had three weeks to produce an acceptable beard.

I've had a beard for 32 years and been a 'folk singer' for around 37 years. I didn't grow the beard because I was interested in folk music, nor does it necessarily follow that those with beards play banjoes or sing ballads with a finger in their ear.

But hey Mudcat fellas, lets all grow beards, wear sandles and Arran sweaters and eat beans, it'll at least validate the stereotype produced by those lazy swabs in the [British] media. Do other folkies in countries suffer similar stereotyping I wonder?