Fury as Punch and Judy show is axed at seaside resort after 120 years

27 February 2024 , 10:21

1020     0

Punch and Judy man Ray Sparks who has been working the seafront in Eastbourne for 34 years (Image: David McHugh/Brighton Pictures)

A council has sparked fury after axing one of the longest-running Punch and Judy shows in Britain.

For more than 120 years the Punch and Judy show in Eastbourne has enthralled visitors to the seaside resort. A quintessential part of the British seaside holiday, it was one of the most successful and longest-running in the UK dating back to the 1890s. But now Punch and Judy man, Ray Sparks, 70, has been given his marching orders after 34 years.

His popular show has been cancelled as part of a swathe of budget cuts by the council. It brings to an end a tradition on Eastbourne seafront that stretches back to the Victorian era. The only known break in the traditional Punch and Judy performances was during World War II and the Covid pandemic.

Visitors to the town say they are "angry and stunned" the council should axe such an iconic part of the British seaside experience. Joe Turner, who visits every year with his family, said: "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." Enda Phelan, 60, who visits from northern Ireland, said: "I'm really stunned and shocked. My kids loved it when they were growing up and it was one of the highlights of a day on the beach. It's such a shame when things come down to how much it costs. I really think the council should find the money for it really.

Dessert shop creates Prime sorbet version of sell-out drink and fans go wild

Punch and Judy man Ray Sparks (David McHugh/Brighton Pictures)

"Eastbourne is first and foremost a seaside resort and the council should remember that." For generations the Punch and Judy show has been a huge part of the seaside experience. It first arrived in Britain in 1662 with the Italian Comedia dell'Arte troupes that toured the country and British audiences took it to their hearts.

When the traditional seaside holiday was born and thousands flocked to the coastal resorts then Punch and Judy followed. Ray Sparks, who has performed the show with the assistance of his wife Jacqui 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.

"It's always been popular but so many people remember it's heyday with children's entertainer, Bertram Otto, who performed from the 1950s to the 70s. He was as Uncle Bertie and also owned a huge miniature railway which was also a huge seaside attraction. I took over 34 years ago and apart from during the pandemic I have performed the show four times a week every summer.

The local council says it is having to make a massive range of cuts (David McHugh/Brighton Pictures)

"The council has told me they can't afford it anymore. They even told me 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." It is understood the four performances cost the council around £350 a week during the summer holidays - a period of seven weeks with a total annual cost of less than £2,500.

A spokesperson for Eastbourne Council said: "Councils up and down the UK are dealing with unprecedented financial pressures. "Many authorities, including Eastbourne, are dealing with soaring costs associated with homelessness and temporary accommodation. To put this into context, our 2018/19 spending on temporary accommodation was £1.4million, this year it is approaching £5million. It means that for every £1 we collect in council tax, 49p is currently spent on temporary accommodation, which is clearly unsustainable.

"It is therefore inevitable that tough decisions are required to protect the frontline services that our residents rely on. While we do not have the budget to support Punch and Judy, we have offered the operators a rent-free year to help them continue on the seafront.

Jaya Narain