'Non-stop hugs' for Jolly Fisherman mascot helpers

The Jolly Fisherman mascot attends events during summer in the Lincolnshire town

Visitors to Skegness will not be seeing the town's Jolly Fisherman mascot out and about this summer.

A lack of volunteers means there is nobody to put on the costume and meet and greet holidaymakers at the Lincolnshire seaside resort.

Former mayor and occasional mascot minder, Steve Kirk, has appealed for people to come forward to don the outfit.

He said: "It really takes somebody who loves people... You will get hugged nonstop if you're the Jolly Fisherman."

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.

A statue of the Jolly Fisherman stands in the town

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.

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