A FORMER RAF serviceman, who has battled throat cancer, will Brave the Shave at the Wolversdene Club on Sunday.

Monxton resident and parish councillor David Bateman has chosen to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer appeal after the charity helped him and his wife, Dorothy, throughout his treatment and recovery.

The 64-year-old will be joined by two friends in the barbers chair in the club at 4pm.

He said: "I am raising money on behalf of Macmillan cancer charity as I have had such great support during my treatment for throat cancer.

"It has been such a life changer finding out that you have a potential death sentence hanging over you, but the support that both I and my wife Dorothy received helped tremendously during these dark months."

Mr Bateman spent most of my adult life in the forces, starting, after leaving school at 15, with the Royal Navy as a marine engineer.

He was then in the Fire Service at Middle Wallop with the Army Fire Service.

Later on in the 1980s he joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force as a 'mover' with 4624 Movements Sqn at RAF Brize Norton.

He then joined 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Sqn at RAF Hullavington and then RAF Lyneham, where he spent 15 years serving in Bosnia/Gulf War II and Afghanistan.

In 2006 in Afghanistan he was 'damaged', and in 2008 was discharged due to health problems.

He added: "I have been married to Dot since 1972 and we have two wonderful daughters and four lovely grandchildren who have been absolutely superb in supporting me after Afghanistan and during my treatment, and consequent recovery, from throat cancer."

To sponsor David go to justgiving.com/David-Bateman5