Plea for Skegness Jolly Fisherman mascot volunteers
Mr Kirk said the lack of the resort's well-known mascot was "so, so disappointing". "When you are depending on volunteers it's hard for people to get the time and we appreciate that," he said."So my plea would be please if you can spend just a few hours occasionally the more volunteers we have, the less the strain."The character was created in 1908 by artist John Hassall for the Great Northern Railway to attract visitors to the town.He features on gifts and souvenirs as well as being immortalised in a statue on a fountain outside the railway station.Mr Kirk is also appealing for more minders to guide the foam character at events."The minder role is just so important, people don't understand a minder is Jolly's eyes and ears," he said.
Fish and chip shop owner Andrew Epton described the character as the town's "iconic poster boy"."He is just known worldwide," he said."Because in whatever image he comes out in, he represents Skegness plain and simple and the joy it brings."Mr Epton described the lack of a mascot this year as "a shame"."I hope someone does [volunteer] because it is a joyous figure", he added.Skegness Town Council said it was "doubtful" the mascot would appear this summer and a plan was being worked on to bring him back without relying on volunteers."There is no question that the Jolly Fisherman character will reappear in due course", the council added.Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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