Hippie no more: Peter Sage to take part in Blackfriars Greatest Shave

When you think of history’s great duos, Batman and Robin, Barbie and Ken, Antony and Cleopatra, Mario and Luigi and Captain & Tennille* come to mind.

And for Blackfriars students, you could add long-serving teacher Peter Sage and his bushy beard to that list.

But Mr Sage’s beard could soon be a thing of the past – if the school community can hit its Blackfriars Greatest Shave fundraising target.

It is the second time the school has held Blackfriars Greatest Shave. In 2021, we raised $6500 for the Mary Potter Foundation. The foundation supports the palliative care work of  the Mary Potter Hospice.

This year, the target is $7500, at which point Mr Sage loses the beard, with all money again going to support the Mary Potter Foundation.

“I had cancer three years ago and the treatments were rough … so much so, I couldn’t grow whiskers,” said Mr Sage, adding he was a “old hippie” who had a long beard during his university years.

“I was determined to grow a serious beard when I got through it, and I did. I can’t imagine life post beard – a strange, lonely place where the lost things go.”

Most of the 2023 Prefect group will shave their heads during a whole-school assembly on Wednesday 12 April. Other staff members who have agreed to be brave and shave are Clancy Page (beard), Dina Hasaneen (pony tail) and Antonio Caiazza (head).

Harry Boyd-Turner is one of the Prefects who will have his head shaved at the assembly. Harry joked he had been growing his signature blond locks for years in preparation.

“I really do need a haircut,” he said with a laugh. “But, seriously, this is a small thing I can do to support such a worthwhile cause. I really hope the Blackfriars community gets behind this and we raise plenty of money for the Mary Potter Foundation.”

*For those too young to remember Captain & Tennille, here is perhaps their most popular song. Enjoy!