# Close Shave

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This article is about the a cappella quartet. For the Wallace and Gromit stop-motion short, see [A Close Shave](/source/A_Close_Shave). For the expression, see [Near miss (safety)](/source/Near_miss_(safety)).

**Close Shave** is one of Australia's longest serving male a cappella quartets. Based in [Hobart](/source/Hobart), the quartet delights audiences at conferences, dinners, weddings, and other public functions with its diverse repertoire. In addition to the traditional [Barbershop music](/source/Barbershop_music) style, the quartet is known to mix in popular music, jazz, Gospel, sea shanties, swing, and even some comedy.

## History

The quartet was formed in late 1983 by charter members Ben Oxley, Paul Oxley, Brian Sykes and Tim Begbie. Begdie's wife, Esther, is credited with coming up with the name Close Shave.

A member of [AAMBS](/source/Australian_Association_of_Mens_Barbershop_Singers), Close Shave has participated in seven conventions since the inaugural convention on the Gold Coast in 1991. In 1993, the quartet took bronze in [Perth](/source/Perth,_Western_Australia) and then added a second bronze in 1995 in [Canberra](/source/Canberra). 1997 saw an inspired Close Shave win the silver medal in [Sydney](/source/Sydney).[1] The lineup pictured at right competed under the name "incognito" in the 2005 [AAMBS](/source/Australian_Association_of_Mens_Barbershop_Singers) Convention on the [Gold Coast](/source/Gold_Coast,_Queensland) placing fifth.

In 1993, Close Shave planned to travel to the Perth Convention. This prompted baritone Tim Begbie to found [Hobart](/source/Hobart)'s only male barbershop chorus: [The Wellingtones](/source/The_Wellingtones).

## Lineup

**Current**[when?]

- Simon Beswick – [tenor](/source/Tenor)
- Jeames Bone – [lead](/source/Melody)
- Dominic Mackie – [bass](/source/Bass_(voice_type))
- Tim Begbie – [baritone](/source/Baritone)

**History**

- Tenor - Ben Oxley (1983–1985) - Tony Hitske (1986–1991) - Brian Yates (1991–1992) - Phil Elphinstone (1992–1994) - Daniel Beckitt (1994–1998) - Jason Geeves (1998–2008) - Simon Beswick (2002–present)
- Lead - Paul Oxley (1983–1985) - Ben Oxley (1985–1986) - Ken Hunt (1987) - Trevor Kean (1987) - John Newell (1987–1996) – International Gold Medal Quartet: [Realtime](/source/Realtime_(quartet)) - Craig Wood (1996–1998) - Geoff Green (1999–2001) - Adam Purton (2001–2007) - Chris Waterhouse (2007) - Kristian Byrne (2008–2009) - Tim Carolan (2010–2011) - Jeames Bone (2012–present)
- Bass - Brian Sykes (1983–1993) - John Ballard (1993–2004) - Jimmy Hoggett (2004–2007) - Jeff Michel (2007–2010) - Andrew Carolan (2010–2012) - Dominic Mackie (2012–present)
- Baritone - Tim Begbie (1983–present)

## References

1. ["AAMBS - All Champions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012020/http://www.aambs.org.au/dbpage.php?pg=champions&select_Competition=exists&Competition=QuartetOpenFinal&B1=Show). Archived from [the original](http://www.aambs.org.au/dbpage.php?pg=champions&select_Competition=exists&Competition=QuartetOpenFinal&B1=Show) on 2007-09-27.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.closeshave.net)
- [(1) Australian Association of Mens Barbershop Singers](http://www.aambs.org.au)
- [(4) The Wellingtones - Hobart Male Chorus](https://web.archive.org/web/20051214104126/http://www.wellingtones.intas.net/)
- [Barbershop Harmony Society (USA)](http://www.barbershop.org)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Close Shave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Shave) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Shave?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.