Fibreglass Camels

[MadFrank]

There is only a very tenuous link to boats here I'm afraid.

Thos of you who travel to their boats via, or trail their boats down, the lower reaches of the M5 might be able to help here.

Does anybody know the origin of the fibreglass camel that has been staring at the M5 near Bridgewater for at least the past 30 years (in my knowledge).

The camel is close to the new 50 foot tall straw man that has recently appeared by the motorway.

Thanks

 

[ari]

The camels name is Humphrey.

I believe he was part of a Bridgewater Carnival float many years ago, and was parked at the bottom of the field by the motorway and has been there ever since. I have a suspicion that he might be Humphrey II though, as I've noticed he's looking suspiciously clean recently.

And personally I don't know why they bothered with that weird new age statue thing, Humphrey's way better!

Ari.

 

[ari]

Here you go!


Sedgemoor News - Press Release





Humphrey The M5 Camel - 1st October 2001

Humphrey, the M5 Camel, has recently celebrated his 21st birthday and was given two giant sized pints of Blackthorn cider to help him celebrate the occasion. Humphrey has received many cards from his fans, sent to nearby Sedgemoor Services on the M5.

The camel originated in 1980 as part of a Young Farmers' carnival float and has been a regular sight between junctions 23 and 24 of the M5 in Somerset. His nearest neighbour is the Sunset Giant (Willow Man), this unique willow sculpture is now in the process of being rebuilt after an arson attack.

Humphrey does occasionally disappear himself; due to his celebrity status he is in demand to attend weddings, christenings and charity events. It is also believed that he will be taking part in a breast cancer promotion starting on Sunday (September 30) when he will be sporting a pink ribbon.

Humphrey does have some live cousins residing in this part of Somerset. They are used for Camel Trekking in the nearby Quantock Hills, an area featured in the film 'Pandaemonium'

ENDS

For further information, please contact Nick White, Tourism Marketing Manager, Sedgemoor District Council on 01278 435343. For details of Camel Trekking phone 01278 733186.


http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/sedgemoorweb/Content/Quicklinks/PR/HumphreyTheM5Camel.htm

 

[tcm]

Re: fab info ari, well done! nm

.

 

[tcm]

Re: hi, mad frank!

what an excelent handle, second only to "oldgit", I feel.

 

[ari]

Re: fab info ari, well done! nm

Ah, the power of the search engine!!

I love that camel though, watched out for it when journeying up and down for years. Always makes me smile when I see it.

 

[petem]

And an excellent debut post to this forum

10/10 but would expect no less from someone in your profession.

 

[Guest]

We are not priveleged to have a big Camel but we do have a big Pineapple, big Macadamia, big Avocado, big Prawn, big Mower, big Banana down south a bit, little T-Rex, big Apple, big Kart, big Cow, big Shell, big Bull. The big Bull is in the news all the time though because it keeps losing it's most famous assets. Why people would want to steal them is beyond me.

If you like big things check out:-

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~arundell/bigcow.htm

To top it all off we are about to get the big gum boots once the fighting about which town (Tully or Babinda I think) gets the most rain has subsided.

 

[longjohnsilver]

He was also kidnapped some time back and held for ransom. I think about £10 was paid and back he trotted. also changes colour on a regular basis, least popular was pink!

Willow man is IMHO ugly and deserved to be burnt, now not so easily achieved as they have built a moat around him for protection.

For a spectacular event Bridgwater carnival at the beginning of November is well worth a visit, it's almost a religion down here, no other carnival come close.


Oh and they really do have camel trekking on the Quantocks, or at least they used to, have seen the ugly beasts on a number of occasions.

 

[MadFrank]

Re: hi, mad frank!

Frank - as in Frank Black (Lance Henrickson) from TV series Millenium - we have a very similar hairline - or lack of it.........

Mad - well I'll leave that one to the imagination

 

[tcm]

Re: that profession

note also the cheeky mis-spelling of "millennium" eh?

 

[MadFrank]

Re: that profession

My contribution to the Y2K bug.....

 

[petem]

The only profession.....

That you can charge for cocking it up in the first place (Y2K) then charge them again for fixing it!

 

[tcm]

Re: Dev dept beats up Ops

Cocking it up? Cocking it up!! There was fix out for this for ages AND most users have already upgraded to version 9.5 so your fault for not putting it in the budget. After all, you wouldn't expect to use, say, a powerboat for ever and ever, now would you?...No, i didn't say i have a powerboat i was just using it as an example, ahem. Alright, a car then.

 

[petem]

I'm pleased to report that he was still there and looking good as I passsed him on Friday night.

 

[halcyon]

We have had a Pharaoh and a elephant keeping him company in the past.


Brian

 

[ari]

Good news! Good old Humphrey.

 

[petem]

I think the straw man was erected to alert motorists that they will shortly be passing Humphrey.