Dreadlocks go as Graham braves shave
GRAHAM Barrington Taylor stopped cutting his hair when his dad William died back in 1992.
Over the next 25 years, his curly hair turned into dreadlocks and he kept them as a way of remembering his dad.
Graham had a difficult few years. He ended up the on streets after his landlord sold the house he had been renting. He turned to heroin and crack to cope with sleeping rough on Manchester’s streets.
But Graham, 53, has now overcome his drug problems and lives at a hostel on Daisy Bank Road in Victoria Park.
His personal transformation made him want to lose the dreadlocks - but he wanted something good to come out of it so had them cut off to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘Brave the Shave’ to raise money for the charity. Macmillan had looked after his dad who died from lung cancer.
Graham said: “It was by coincidence that my hair grew in to dreadlocks. I was 28 when my dad died and I just stopped combing my hair without realising it. Three months went by when before I knew it I had around 400 dreadlocks growing,
“Over time they joined together in to bigger dreadlocks, in the end I had about 15 braids. My dreadlocks were a commemoration to the day my dad died and I just continued to grow them. Having them there made me think about him because people would ask me about the dreadlocks.” He needed half a bottle of shampoo to wash his hair, and it would take a whole three days for the dreadlocks to dry.
Graham added: “Being on the streets was easy for me because I was living in the city I grew up in. I’m 5ft 11” so I can look after myself.
!I slept with one eye open and had a sleeping bag to keep myself warm. I didn’t find it frightening but I didn’t enjoy it either. I just dealt with it.
“I’ve got a nice big room and I’ve got support workers helping me to get my life back on track.
“I’ve come off the heroin and crack and I’m reducing my alcohol intake. I’m attending computer classes and employment sessions to help me find a job.
Jason Broughton from Inspiring Change Manchester is supporting Graham alongside Riverside support worker, Wendy Foran. They have helped Graham with his recovery.
Wendy said: “We’re so proud of Graham for doing the shave, it is his way of giving something back to Macmillan who were there for his dad. It’s a major step for him getting his hair chopped off, and it is his way of saying goodbye. “We’re so proud of him.” Graham now plans to sell the dreadlocks to raise more money for the cause. So far £155 has been raised for the cancer charity.
To donate to Graham’s fundraising page visit bravetheshave.macmillan. org.uk/shavers/graham-taylor1