A MAN who survived a stroke and lost two fiancees to cancer had a close shave to 'raze' £1,200 for charities close to his heart.

Neil Orr, 51, decided to part with his moustache after 37 years to support Ardgowan Hospice and Inverclyde Royal's stroke unit where he was treated in 2012.

The council roads superintendent was at Esquires Barbers in Dunlop Street yesterday being cheered on by his nieces and nephews.

He says he has been overwhelmed by the support from family, friends and work colleagues for his charity stunt.

He laughed: "They have been throwing money at me to shave the moustache off."

His niece Jillian Orr, 32, said: "I've never seen him without his moustache - I think he looks 10 years younger.

"He's raised lots of money for two great causes."

Nephew Mark Orr, 38, said: "It's brilliant. I've been telling him to do it for years."

Theresa Scott, who co-owns the barbers with Trisha Gisbey, did the honours and within minutes Neil's face was fuzz-free for the first time since he was at school.

This signalled a round of applause, hugs and kisses and a shout from Mark's partner Gill McCall declaring, 'he's no longer a Magnum wanna-be.'

Neil was struck down by a carotid artery dissection in 2012 and had to be rushed to hospital immediately.

He spent two weeks in the unit and fortunately made a full recovery.

But this came after tragedy in his personal life when he lost two wives-to-be to cancer within seven years of each other.

Neil lost first love Anne Ferguson in 1999, at the age of 40.

They had been together nine years.

He found happiness again with Margaret McCafferty and got engaged for a second time but Margaret was struck down with lung cancer in 2006.

This inspired Neil to help the hospice in memory of Anne and Margaret and also the stroke unit for the care he received there.

Jill McDougall, staff nurse at the stroke unit, said: "It's fantastic.. Any money that comes to us, we'll make good use of. It's lovely for us to get some feedback and see people who have recovered doing well."

Alex Mula, of the hospice, added: "It's a huge amount to raise and could pay for 24 hours dedicated care for a patient in our in-patient unit. It shows people they can be really creative in fundraising with as something as simple as shaving off your moustache."