Maureen'sstatues leftgleaming for summer

Editor Ed Asquith and Maureen Robinson admire the newly polished Smugglers statue in Merchants row. 162101a

The popular pieces, each one donated to the town by Maureen Robinson, include the Smugglers in Merchant’s Row, Freddie Gilroy in Royal Albert Drive, the Tunny Fish near Luna Park and the Filey Fisherman – whose full title is “High Tide in Short Wellies”.

The metal sculptures were all by Durham-based artist Ray Lonsdale.

One of the challenges in protecting them is the problem of seagull droppings as well as the sea air. The statues have been carefully cleaned before receiving a protective coat of Owatrol oil, which helps protect against the elements.

The Smuggler’s Apprentice design took Maureen a lot of time to research and was dedicated in 2012 with special thanks to this newspaper for the publication of her country and coastal features over 30 years.

The tunny fish statue does not need oiling as it is made from stainless steel.

Mrs Robinson said: “Freddie was done in November, the fisherman in April and the smugglers just last week.

“They’ve come up beautifully. When I saw the fisherman I could have wept! It’s a tremendous improvement. They look shiny and the coating means they will last such a long time.”

Mrs Robinson added that it would be a good time to visit them for photographs.