Hotel rooftop protest saves statue

Mr John started his protest a week ago

A man has braved the wintry weather to carry out a week-long protest on the roof of a hotel in south Wales to save a 20ft fibreglass statue from destruction.

Jeff John, from Port Talbot, ended his vigil on top of the Four Winds Hotel in Aberavon on Wednesday night, and celebrated the event in the bar.

A lot of things have gone missing from Aberavon beach in recent years

Jeff John, protester

The protest began after he found out that the giant statue of a moustached sunbathing man could disappear - the hotel owners how said it will stay.

While on the roof, Mr John was also raising money for a children's ward at a nearby hospital.

Mr John discovered the statue - which is believed to have once advertised lager in London's Piccadilly Circus - would be taken away after talking to builders who were refurbishing the Four Winds Hotel.

The idea of the protest began with a pub conversation about how the area had lost several attractions.

"A lot of things have gone missing from Aberavon beach in recent years," said Mr John, a regular at the hotel.

I have been raising money for the children's ward - we set a target of £2,000 which I know we have gone over

Jeff John, protester

"Many shops and the old beach hotel have gone - we wanted to keep some of the old heritage."

He said support from local community had helped him through the wintry weather.

"All of the local people have been passing in their cars and beeping their horns - there has been a very good response," he said.

"It was very cold, but it wouldn't have been the same in the summer - it was a real challenge," he added.

Now down from the roof, Mr John said it was good to be "nice and warm"

However, he has not yet found out how much he has collected for Neath Port Talbot hospital.

"I have been raising money for the children's ward - we set a target of £2,000 which I know we have gone over," he said.

"A lot of people pledged money once it was confirmed the statue would be saved, so there is a lot of money to come in.

"The response has been excellent," he added.

Money raising

Mr John said the owners of the Four Winds Hotel had not realised how the community felt about the statue.

"I think they see what they would be losing," he said.

Robert Phillips, one of the hotel's owners, said the decision to get rid of the statue had been made on grounds of taste.

We gave him a keg of beer, but he said it was too cold to drink it

Robert Phillips, hotel owner

"We have just had the new restaurant done, and thought the statue wasn't the image we were after," he said.

"Now it looks like we will have to give him a new lick of paint.

"We bought it very cheaply five years ago - for about £50 or £100," he said.

The owners gave Mr John three meals a day to help him through the week.

"We gaven him a keg of beer as well, but he said it was too cold to drink it," added Mr Phillips.