Not what it seems – new wildlife spotted on the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal near Marlborough in Wiltshire
Walkers and boaters on a canal have been surprised by a rather unexpected addition to the waterways.
A large gorilla statue has appeared on an old ash tree stump next to Bruce Mason’s boat mooring at Great Bedwyn, on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire.
The statue was bought for him as a 60th birthday present by his friends and its name – Gerald – was chosen after a charity event.
“I just had the idea that a gorilla at the top of the stump would look great,” said Mr Mason. “I don’t know where the idea came from. I just thought a gorilla would look fantastic.”
“Unfortunately, about six months ago, the tree had to be cut down because it had ash dieback, and we missed it,” he said.
“We just thought it would be a shame just to leave that stump there, bare like that.”
After he received the statue as a birthday present, Mr Mason’s thoughts turned to raising money for charity.
“There’s an organisation called the Bruce Trust, which runs canal boats for the disabled,” he said.
“We thought a good way of raising some money for them would be to have a gorilla naming ceremony at the Three Tuns in Great Bedwyn.
“Everybody put some money in a pot, and we drew out some names, and then we had cheers for the winner.”
Gerald proved the most popular name following the event – which raised £220 for the Bruce Trust.
The name honours a scene from the Not the Nine O’Clock News sketch, which stars Rowan Atkinson.
Mr Mason added: “I love the fact he’s just keeping guard. His expression almost changes due to the light of the day.
“Everybody who walks past the boat is laughing and smiling. Looking up and seeing a gorilla in the middle of Great Bedwyn on the the Kennet and Avon is not the sort of thing you’d expect.”