Keeping watch over Freddie
Freddie security Security Guard Malcolm Williamson of Coastal Security who have organised regular night patrols to keep an eye on Freddie .. Picture by Neil Silk 120550a 03/02/12
A SCARBOROUGH security firm has been keeping a close eye on North Bay’s popular “Freddie” statue since it became the subject of a shock vandal attack last week.
Coastal Security, of Castle Road, offered to do everything they can to protect the much-loved piece of artwork – free of charge.
Managing director Chris Browne said: “We’ve been down there every night since it happened.
“We have an emergency call-out number, so the idea was that if anything happened we could get someone there straight away.
“As we all know, paint is much easier to get off before it dries.
“But we’re hoping that our presence will put people off doing anything altogether.”
The company have been sending night patrol officers to keep an eye on the £50,000 statue.
Officers have been taking their vehicles down to the area on Marine Drive and pulling up next to Freddie to deter any would-be vandals.
Mr Browne said: “Everybody here has been appalled by what happened. We all love the statue and if we can do out bit for the town, we will.
“We’re providing this service free of charge and will be from now on in.
“As long as Freddie is there, we’ll look after him.”
The sculpture, which has the title Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers, was bought and presented as a gift to the people of Scarborough by pensioner Maureen Robinson.
On hearing about the night patrols, Mrs Robinson said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea, as long as it’s not putting anyone to too much trouble.
“It’s very kind of them, it’s wonderful.
“The more people that keep an eye on Freddie the better.”
The statue was vandalised on the night of Thursday January 26, when vandals threw yellow paint all over the sculpture.
Since then police have been looking for those responsible and have now stepped up the investigation with leaflet drops in schools and a renewed witness appeal.
PC Alex Parker, the officer leading the investigation, is hoping that any members of the public who took a photograph of Freddie last Thursday afternoon or evening, before the vandalism took place, will come forward.
Call 101, select option two and ask for PC Alex Parker.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Comments
There are 19 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
badger464
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:14 AMyeah we all heard the anti sematism crap offered by our tourism councillor but did any group claim responsibility? Regular users of marine drve walkers joggers etc may have noticed an extreme lack of the boy racers type who usually park up bin this area, any connection? And finally, was it council paint used in this attack that spurred the immediate removal? There were certainly reasons for this attack but as usual the reasons were likely to murky to publicise.
SirChasm
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:45 PMI think the words 'free of charge' mean the council is not paying anything Truth. How long these 'free' services will last is another thing, but has been said, some easy publicity.
oldboro
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:00 PMThey both look as misreable as each other, costs nothing to smile or is that part of being a Security Guard.
The Truth Spoken Louder
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:10 AM1. Blatant Advertising 2. Surely a CCTV Camera is going to be cheaper and would have a constant eye on "freddie" as well as covering the surrounding area of marine drive. Another blatant waste of tax payers money hiring a security firm..... Next they will be increasing our council tax !! ......... oh yeah they already are !!
joe kerr
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 09:53 AMit looks a bit like a bull dyke to me
Suespeaks
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 07:23 PM#13: Ha ha ha ha! ROFL !!!
Bluebird One
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 05:39 PMNow this guy is covered in yellow paint, whats going on ?.
TSnf
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 05:17 PMIs there no other news to report on these days? I'm sick of reading about this b****y statue. There are worse things happen to real people. How much enthusiasm would police, the public, or security firms (whether doing it as a freebie or not) show if one of any of us had paint thrown over us or been mugged?? Not a lot!!
I read the news today, oh boy
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 03:55 PM7 Ha ha, which one do you mean? The tall thin one in the cap looks fitter.
tyke123
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 03:30 PMSeparated at birth??
Sir Elton John
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 02:43 PMI remember that Jon Snow of Channel 4 News fame defaced our statue of good Queen Victoria outside the town hall by hurling blue paint over it back in the '60s.... I hope this gives readers some food for thought!
guesticulate
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 02:34 PMOr call in at the nearest pub!
Removed by Moderator
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 02:11 PMha is the guy in the picture supposed to look menacing whats he gonna do if he had to give chase he would probably have a heart attack
I read the news today, oh boy
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 01:08 PM3 I thought the Night Marshals were volunteers? Or was that the Street Angels? Could we not ask them to keep an eye on Freddie and let Coastal Security find something better to do than "taking their vehicles down to the area on Marine Drive and pulling up next to Freddie", it does seem a bit of a waste of time and after all we don't want them getting parking tickets.
Renshaw Woods
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:18 AMMrs Robinson got it right when she said "the more people that keep an eye on Freddie the better". Let the scum know that they are not wanted.
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