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Source: Skegness News 17th and 24th January 1934

The Skegness News republished this article in 1934, which was originally run in a 1911 January edition. The article gives an account of the realisation by Skegness Council that an advertising poster was necessary for the resort, the setting up of a Poster Fund, and the consideration of submitted designs.

New Poster Fund

The first move towards obtaining what ultimately turned out to be John Hassall’s famous “Jolly Fisherman” poster, which has played so great a part in Skegness’s rise to National recognition as a holiday resort, was made by the Skegness Council in instructing their Clerk to make to the townspeople, through the medium of the local press, an appeal to support the New Poster Fund. The letter published was as follows:

The following news article is taken from the Skegness News January 1911:

Advertising Skegness Pictorial Poster

At a meeting of the Council held yesterday the 10th instant, we were instructed to write a letter to the local press inviting subscriptions towards a new Poster Fund for the purpose of advertising Skegness as a Seaside Health Resort, and making known its claim as a holiday ground for visitors and rendezvous for children.
The Council consider that as the Great Northern Railway Company have and are doing so much towards popularising Skegness, the time has arrived when this District should also take some share in advertising the attractions of our bracing seaside resort, moreover, seeing that the Council are debarred by law from utilizing monies arising out of the General District Rate for advertising, they are bound to appeal for voluntary support.
It is not necessary to labour the point that advertising is a great advantage to a Seaside Watering Place, and the Council confidently appeal through us to the townspeople and inhabitants of Skegness, and to others interested in the development of our town.
A sum of from £50 to £70 will be requires and we shall therefore be glad to receive subscriptions at this office for the above object. All subscriptions will be acknowledged in the press. Yours faithfully, Stephen Tweed & Co, Clerks to the Council.

Skegness Council Discuss “Bouncing Boatmen” Poster

The following extracts were taken from the Skegness Council meeting of January 1911, presided over by Coun S Moody, JP with Coun JH Shelly occupying the vice-chair:

Advertising Skegness

The following communication had been received from the Great Northern Railway King’s Cross N January 2nd, 1911
Skegness Poster
Dear Sirs - In reply to your letter of the 29th ultimo, I have received the design entitled “At Skegness Everyone Smiles”. and note your remarks.
Unless you are, this year, going to provide the “Sunny Skegness” design, I must ask you to return it to me. It is not the property of this Company, and will have to be retured to the owners.
It is to be regretted that the Skegness people do not make known more widely the claims of their resort as a holiday ground.
If you think anything can be done this year, I would be glad to arrange a meeting to discuss the question.Yours faithfully, HJ Jewell.

The “Bouncing Boatmen” Poster
Coun Kirk thought they should produce the bouncing boatmen poster.
Coun Moody said something should be done; we are behind the times.
Coun Randall: We ought to do something in provideing posters. Skegness should be advertised. The GNR are prepared to find stations for the bills if we will provide the pictorial.

It was resolved to invite public subscription.

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