Locals have been left furious after the council of their seaside town decided to axe Britain’s longest-running Punch and Judy show.
The seaside staple puppet show has been running in Eastbourne for more than 120 years, entertaining visitors to the town on the south England coast.
Ray Sparks, 70, has been performing the Punch and Judy show for 34 years. His popular show has been cancelled as part of budget cuts by Eastbourne Council.
Locals and visitors are angry at the axing of the town’s traditional puppet show, which has previously only stopped for the Second World War and the Covid pandemic.
Joe Turner, who visits every year with his family, told the Mail: “A seaside Punch and Judy show is in our DNA. The kids love it. It’s all part of the seaside experience.
“It’s as British as fish and chips, a stick of rock and an ice cream. It makes me angry really. It won’t be the same without it and I think it’s short-sighted by the council.”
Ray Sparks, who has performed the show since 1989, said: “It’s been a huge pleasure to do the show all these years. It’s certainly been very popular. I’m really upset it’s been cancelled as it is a huge part of the traditional seaside experience here.
“I took over 34 years ago and apart from during the pandemic I have performed the show four times a week every summer.
“The council has told me they can’t afford it anymore. They might start charging me for a pitch if I planned to fund it myself to carry on the tradition. It’s a bit out of order.”
A spokesperson for Eastbourne Council said: “Councils up and down the UK are dealing with unprecedented financial pressures. Many authorities are dealing with soaring costs associated with homelessness and temporary accommodation.
“It is inevitable that tough decisions are required to protect frontline services that residents rely on. We have offered the operators a rent-free year to help them continue on the seafront.”
