Stolen toad found dumped on A63
A giant toad stolen from Melton has been found on the A63.
The hunt for Megenta Toad was launched after the metre-high amphibian was taken from the business park in Gibson Lane.
It was removed from its plinth sometime between last Friday evening and Saturday morning.
The 40 giant toads – most of which are in Hull – mark the 25th anniversary of the death of poet and former University of Hull librarian Philip Larkin, who referred to the animals in his works.
They were installed in July and proved an instant hit with passersby.
Claire Huby, toad project manager, said: "The Highways Agency discovered him sometime yesterday evening in the lay-by near to the Gilberdyke turning on the A63.
"The police recovered him and he is now at Festival House in Hull.
"I will be visiting him to inspect any damage and we are hoping to have him back on his plinth by the weekend.
"I hope the news reports pricked the conscience of the thieves and was the reason he was abandoned at the side of the road."
28 Comments
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by t-bag, Hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 7:18AM
“I wish somebody could rob every single toad fill it with illegal you know who's and frog march the lot to were they belong in the swamps among buzzing things.”
by warts an' all, Toad Hall
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 11:06PM
“Some really nasty comments re. the character of Mr. Larkin. I can think of worse--what about a certain married millionaire footballer who has to pay for sex. What a man!”
by Terry, Coventry
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 9:34PM
“99% of people in Hull have never even read a Philip Larkin poem , to save you the time , he wasn't very good ( or from Hull )”
by Twaddle, cack, faeces, and garbage
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:54PM
“Comment is free. Larkin's output was utter crap. he was a smug opinionated four-eyed, quasi-academic, with as much talent as Michael Barrymore. Er...... apart from that he was great, and deserves to be remembered by everyone from the city he didn't come from by way of some fibre glass facsimile reptile amphibians. What a (substitue very rude word for a lady's front bottom)”
by comment is free, Hull
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:30PM
“Ranter, you truly are an exceptional authority on Larkin and his thought processes. You seem to have profound and eloquent insights into his psyche. It would be so helpful to academics and scholars everywhere if you would write a book and allow a wider audience to benefit from your penetratingly lucid understandings of the nations favourite poet. Clearly great minds who have devoted years of study and research into Larkin and his work have missed the point entirely and would be greatly appreciative of your deeper wisdom on the subject.”
by North Ferriby, smug, rich and cosy
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:29PM
“Thorngumbald is not a very desirable or prosperous domicile, thats why property is so cheap. Any perspective on that Steve?”
by Noggers, Blog
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:26PM
“Ranter, check out "Bacon Hitler" on google”
by Ranter, Hull.
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 9:29PM
“I thought Hitler was quite a good comparison actually as they both seemed to share the same thought process.
Hitler was a racist, he was obsessed with antisemitism, was known to rave like a looney,and despised those he looked down on. He also enjoyed many affairs with married women. The only difference was that Hitler was addicted to
stimulants, and not booze.”
by Sam, Hull
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 8:46PM
“I think you might be over-egging the pudding a bit when you compare Larkin with Hitler.
Yes, by all accounts he was rather an unpleasant individual and some of his work could be charitably described as 'curmudgeonly' but as far as I'm aware he never produced a version of Mien Kampf in iambic pentameter.
Compared to my late grandmother who died at about the same time (although considerably older) Larkin was a champion of racial integration.”
by tel, A63
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 8:10PM
“To leigh, hull
We do get out and hop about we go larkin in the park but we dont go on the A63 as there are no barriers.....”