Skegness Magazine

FORMER SKEGNESS DONKEYS

Their War-time Life and Escapades

Skegness donkeys—including ‘Mae West’ and ‘Shirley Temple’—which in peace years provided enjoyment for thousands of little visitors and excursionists, are doing their war-time bit in the same good cause at Chesterfield.

We have been favoured with the loan of the copy of a report on the animals compiled by Mr. E. J. Boothby, Deputy Superintendent of the Parks Department. Here is what he writes:

“The donkeys we purchased from Skegness have improved tremendously. Their physical condition was rather poor when they came but, as stated, their condition has greatly improved. It may be due to the change of air or the different variety of grass.

They are great favourites with the children in the Park; in fact, the first day they came to the Park there were at least 200 children waiting – and what a job we had to get them into some sort of order! They all clamoured for the ride. The donkeys could not be seen for the children swarming around them but the animals were not at all perturbed; they stood calmly awaiting the word go.

“The are fetched into the Park about 2 p.m., work until 5.30 p.m,, when they have a break for three-quarters of an hour. Then they work until about 8.30 p.m. Hours, of course, fluctuate according to black-out times.

“They work six months, from April to September inclusive. When they are not at work they are turned out on to the municipal golf course, where they have a roving commission. An open shed is provided for them in case of bad weather, also plenty of hay. As we grow a fair amount of swedes with other food crops, they get a few swedes occasionally.

“Our biggest trouble is to keep them on the golf course. Although they have plenty of room to roam about and also plenty of food, if it is at all possible they will get out. After seeing the methods they employ for getting out, and other tricks they get up to, I consider it is very unfair to the donkeys when people use the term ‘donkey’ to denote stupidity.

CHASED BY HORSE

“An amusing incident occurred when the donkeys were taken to the shoeing smith to be shod. A big railway dray-horse stood outside the smithy. The horse sniffed at the first donkey as it passed. then, seeing a whole string of donkeys, it lay back its ears and made a grab at the nearest.

“In a flash the donkeys were galloping up the road with the horse and dray in full pursuit.

“Luckily for the donkeys, he collided with a lamp standard, buff was not seriously injured.

“As previously mentioned, our biggest trouble is to keep them from getting out and straying on the public highway. The donkeys were bought from Mr. B. Hancock, of 64, Alexandra Road, Skegness. Their names are: Shamrock, Jimmy, Daisy, Mae West, Shirley Temple and Jubilee. All excepting Shamrock are looking very fine. Shamrock is very aged and has been sold to a gentleman for his small boy. Enquiries have proved that he has a very good home.”

Source: Skegness Standard 10th November 1943

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