100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 185 : Ray by phil_howcroft

100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 185 : Ray

This is my second stranger from Nottingham Goose Fair. Meet Ray Brookes, Nottingham’s Cock on A Stick man.

Did you say “Cock on A Stick” Phil ?

Yes, it;s a Nottingham tradition at Goose Fair. Ray makes sugary lollipops shaped like a cockerel. He has been selling them from his stall at Goose Fair for almost 70 years. Ray is 88 and is an integral part of the famous fair.

He sells the confectionery from a little stand (a bit like a street newspaper vendors stand) at the fair. His stand reads “Cock On Sticks” and many people who walk by have a selfie and a giggle outside his stall.

He also sells bonfire toffee, but the cock on a stick is by far his favourite line.

Ray is thinking about retiring, so this could be his last year at the fair.

It was a difficult photo to capture as Ray was inside his little stall, so there was not much available light. He raised his cockerel to me when I asked him for a photo

Thank you for letting me take you picture Ray, I hope you have a great Goose Fair and enjoy your retirement

Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page


https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers

My own strangers can be seen here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168
I hope he has a long and happy retirement, it sounds well deserved if not a little overdue!
October 5th, 2019  
Wow, I feel like a slacker, retiring after 31 years! You did a great job capturing the intensity of his expression, using all the available light.
October 5th, 2019  
@allie912 thanks allison , I was pleased with this shot, 88 is quite an age to be working :)

@fbailey very much overdue felicity :)
October 6th, 2019  
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.