Sevenoaks wrote: “I then grew a ‘stash’ and people liked it . . . so did I. I kept it and tried shaving it off after a couple of years. Mostly because I tried trimming it after a few drams of 15 yr single malt . . . I could not get it even so it was gone!”

Calls to mind what happened to my basic training platoon sergeant. He had a magnificently twirled moustache that was his pride and joy. One night at the mess he had one too many, and one or more of his fellow NCOs shaved off one half of it. Needless to say he had to shave of the other half!
He grew it back when he was on leave, though.

And a point worth mentioning to those gents who have tried to grow a beard but found it too itchy: the itch only lasts for a few days.
(The most it lasted for me was two weeks. The last time I grew my beard, it was one week.)
If you give in and shave, you will never know the pleasure of being bearded.
Regards,
Mike