Jolly Fisherman 1908 -2008
Level A Conformance to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0  
www.skegness.gov.uk
  
  Town Hall   North Parade  Skegness   Lincolnshire   PE25 1DA
Telephone - 01754 766113
01754 766113
 e-mail townclerk@skegness.gov.uk

 

 

    A Quality Town Council

 
 

JOLLY FISHERMAN 1908~2008
100th Birthday Celebrations - MORE

The Jolly Fisherman - Skegness ©Skegness Town Council
   It has been said with some truth that Skegness rose to fame on a poster.
The Jolly Fisherman Poster and its accompanying slogan is probably the most famous holiday advertisement ever drawn. It has been circulated hundreds of times in almost every newspaper in the land, and the dancing salt has been imitated by thousands of visitors. John Hassall drew the picture in 1908. It had been commissioned by the Great Northern Railway Company and for this masterpiece he received twelve guineas.
The “so bracing” slogan, of almost equal importance, is believed to have been the brainchild of an unknown member of the Railway Staff. The poster was first put on display at Easter time that same year in conjunction with a special three-shilling excursion from Kings Cross. The last of these trips ran on August Bank Holiday, 1913. Hassall, one of the greatest of all poster artists, drew many telling advertisements, but none so fine as the Jolly Fisherman. He visited Skegness only once in his life. That was in 1936 when the town which he had put on the map presented him with an illuminated address and “the freedom of the foreshore”  
Jolly Fisherman Poster - Click to Enlarge!!

  

Skegness is so bracing


British Railways Poster from the 1960's
1960's BR Poster


John Hassall said, “the reality of Skegness has eclipsed all my anticipation's. It is even more bracing and attractive than I had been led to expect”. Born in Deal, as a young man he twice tried, without success, to join the Army. In frustration he went off to Canada, and whilst there he turned his hand to sketching. Returning to England, he went on to Paris and Antwerp to study art, and the first pictures he sent to the Royal Academy were accepted. Hassall’s original masterpiece hangs in a place of honour in Skegness Town Hall. It was formally given to the town by British Railways, along with the copyright in 1966.

The artist died in 1948, eighty years old and penniless.

Photo of Jolly fisherman
Jolly Fisherman Statue

All Text A Images Subject to Copyright ©

  
 
 

 

History
 

Home Page

Home Page - Town Council Home Page

 
         
 
Best viewed at 1024 x 768 pixels
Website ©John Byford ~2009
Page Last updated - 14.01.09