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New Poster Figure “Jolly Fisherman being rested”

THE famous Jolly Fisherman of Skegness has a great-grandson! This bouncing youngster is to edge “Granddad” out of the picture in 1959, according to a decision of the Skegness Publicity Committee on next year’s advertising plans, confirmed by the Coun on Wednesday.
But the Jolly Fisherman himself, now a well-established figure and loyal servant—he celebrated his jubilee this year—is to go into only semi-retirement.
The Foreshore Director, Mr. Willan G. Bosworth, gave this reassurance when one or two members of the Council murmured “Oh! ” at hearing that the famous figure was apparently to be supplanted.
“We have no intention of for-saking the Jolly Fisherman, who is forever bound up with the advertising plans for Britain’s most bracing resort,” he promised.
The idea of the new design, he went on, was a reiteration of the link between British Railways and Skegness. For 50 years extensive use had been made of the rubicund figure of the Jolly Fisherman, bounding along the beach with such jovial energy.

TIME FOR CHANGE
The original had been sold by the late John Hassall to the Great Northern Railway, and was first used at Easter, 1908, to advertise half-day excursions (at 3s. return) from King’s Cross to Skegness.
But now British Railways had decided it was time for a change.

January 1959

SKEGNESS’S famous Jolly Fisherman appears for the first time with his great-grandson on the new British Railways poster 2,000 copies of which are to be distributed throughout Britain for the 1961-62 season.
The sea-booted, sou’-wester’d old salt, for fifty years one of the world’s most famous seaside poster characters, went into semi-retirement in 1959 to enable the poster boy to succeed him as the resort’s “trade mark.”
“People were bewailing the loss of the Fisherman;” says Foreshore Director Mr W.G. Bosworth, “but the poster boy has been so popular that we decided to incorporate both of them in the new design.”
Still in the famous posture, they are now depicted bounding along the Foreshore instead of the beach, and the original slogan, Skegness is so Bracing — first used at Easter, 1908, to advertise half -day rail excursions from King’s Cross to Skegness at three shillings return fare — is used in a new form, extolling the delights of the resort for a both young and old.

1960

1925

A visitor to Skegness from Colwyn Bay during the past month has brought the news that a Skegness Flsherman Poster has been exhibited on the railway station in that resort, and that it has caused a great deal of congratulatory comment amongst the visitors and residents.
Though, it is far afield, who knows what visitors to Colwyn Bay this year may be induced by a sight of that poster to come on a visit to the home town of the Jolly Fisherman?

SKEGNESS GOLDEN WEDDING
Mr and Mrs Charles Overton
Many congratulations have been extended to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Overton, of 25, Alexandra Road, Skegness, on the completion of 50 years in “double harness.”
The happy event took place on Saturday, May 18th, 1929.

Mr and Mrs Overton hold a sad yet proud distinction locally, in that of their five sons of military age who served in the Great War, four—William, Jack, Fred and Arthur—failed to return. The fine service record of the family was enhanced by the fact that a daughter served in the W.R.A.F., holding non-commissioned rank, and other members took part in Red Cross work locally. There are five surviving children, two sons and three daughters.

Mr Overton, who is 72, was born near Winthorpe Church, and Mrs. Overton, who is 71, hailed from Huttoft, and later lived at Burgh, where the couple were married on May 18th, 1879. They came to Skegness on the day after their wedding and have resided in Alexandra Road for 49 years, 31 of which have been spent in their present house.

Prior to his marriage Mr Overton was employed at the Burgh Gravel Pits, and on settling in Skegness he worked at the Earl of Scarbrough’s gravel pits on Wainfleet Road, where his father was foreman. He subsequently entered the employ of the old Local Board and continued under the succeeding authority, the Skegness Urban Council, his service totalling 26 years.
He met with a serious accident in 1912, being knocked down by a motor cycle in Lumley Square one night in October, while going to meet his wife from a Church function. He sustained a double fracture of one leg and was incapacitated for a long period. Since that time he has been unable to do any heavy work.

Naturally Mr. and Mrs. Overton have witnessed tremendous changes during their 50 years’ residence in Skegness. At the time they came the Pier was being built and They have seen the place develop from a mere fishing hamlet to rank among the leading seaside resorts in the Kingdom.

1929
Are YOU researching this line of the Overton family in Skegness? If so, please leave a comment if you require help or census documents.

This group photo of railway employees will prove of interest.
Depicted from left to right are:
Messers. W. Holderness (Boston), W. Raynor (Skegness), J. Wright (Firsby), W. Neal (Skegness) and F. Parrott (Skegness).

The most familiar figure to Skegnessians and district travellers by rail is probably Mr. Rayner, who has acted as ticket collector at Skegness Station for the past eight years, following nearly 19 years’ service as a passenger guard at Leicester.
Possessed of a cheery and obliging disposition, “Walter” is very popular with all classes of travellers, the majority of whom usually take the opportunity of “passing the time o’ day” when giving up their tickets or having them “punched”.
It would be interesting to know how many pieces of cardboard and the value they represent have been handled by Mr Raynor during his eight years’ service at Skegness.

Mr. Parrott has also acted as a ticket collector and in other capacities on the Skegness station for several years, and Mr. Neal has a long record of service as foreman in the goods department.

Messers Holderness and Wright, who have been at Skegness throughout the past season, have now retured to duty at Boston and Firsby respectively.

1926