Not Simon Templar but a statue of St Julian, patron saint of the village which has taken his name. Shot taken on 28th August, the day the feast was celebrated.
The statue bearers stopped a few metres away from where I was so I could take a good shot at the statue. I had taken other shots while they were walking carrying the statue but because of the low lighting and their movement the statue came out slightly blurred.
About the statue: It is said that Julian was a Belgian nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He once went out hunting for deer (hence the animal in the statue). On his return home he found a man and a woman in his bed and thinking the woman was his wife and having an affair with another man he killed them both. When his rage abated he found out that the two persons were his parents who had come to visit without prior warning. From then on Julian changed his way of life and became a holy man. I confirmed the details when I goggled the name on my computer.
Many thanks for your views, comments, and FAV’s. They are very much appreciated.
Ian