A former seaman who has suffered six heart attacks is shaving off his beard - for the first time in almost five decades - for charity.

Francis John Griffin, from Folkestone, known to most as John, will chop off his facial hair this Sunday in aid of the cardiac suite at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

The 65-year-old has not been clean shaven since 1971 when he joined the Royal Navy but now feels the time is right in aid of a good cause after undergoing scores of operations.

Mr Griffin said: “I joined the Royal Navy on the May 5 1970, where the rules were to be clean shaven whilst on duty.

“If you wanted to grow a beard then the protocol would be to request permission to grow one, and in that time was only given four weeks to grow a suitable styled beard.”

The challenge to grow a beard came about with a 50p bet with friends and it carried on from there.

He believes it will be quite a shock: “I’m a little bit 50/50. None of my family have seen me without a beard.

“I don’t know what to expect. I think it will make me look younger.”

But Mr Griffin began having issues with his heart in the 1980s with an infection, and suffered his first cardiac arrest in 1995.

He has since had 35 angiograms - an X-ray that checks blood vessels - around 20 of which were done at the William Harvey Hospital. He has also had around 20 stents, a metal or plastic tube inserted to keep his passageways open.

It’s thought that Mr Griffin’s body makes too much cholesterol and stress was a factor.

He said: “My cause for donating will be going to the Cardiac Catheter Suite, which I do hold very close to my heart... pun intended.

“I cannot thank the doctors, nurses and surgeons enough, as many times they have saved my life. They are fantastic. The future is as rosy as anybody else’s now. I’m quite positive.”

His grandson Grant Oakes will be shaving off the beard at Mr Griffin’s home in Hollins Avenue, Folkestone. The family are set to stream the event live on Facebook.

For more on donating visit the JustGiving page.