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Phantom painter is 82... but stays anonymous!
Old sign, newly-painted
THE identity of the “phantom painter” of the two landmark road signs at Stonebridge and on Kestor Lane in Longridge has been revealed to The News.
But he wishes to remain anonymous!
In a letter to the paper – also written anonymously because, the writer feels, “he would be annoyed with me for telling you” – the Longridge ‘Banksy’ is said to be an octogenarian from Grimsargh who dislikes television, is always on the go and loves helping people.
“He is so kind hearted,” the letter states.
“He painted, and has since touched up, the Preston sign and then he painted the Blackpool sign at the top of Kestor Lane and this really looks great.
“He has also washed the signs at Grimsargh (the ones you see coming from the Preston direction) and washed the Thornley-with-Wheatley sign that drivers see coming from the Longridge direction, as these were dirty and unreadable,
“In addition he cut back all the twigs that overgrew the signs.”
He had read in The News that the Blackpool sign needed painting, and the writer states: “He had to paint (it) on a damp and cold night in the dark.
“He has received compliments from passers-by who say, ‘what a good job you are doing’.
“He also was thanked by a foreign wagon driver, who could not find a sign to Preston anywhere in Longridge until he saw the newly painted one and thanked him.”
More thanks will be going shortly to the Grimsargh resident from Longridge Town Council.
It was the Mayor of Longridge, Coun Rose Adamson, who started the search for the mystery painter by asking The News to find him, as councillors were so impressed by the work he had carried out to improve first the Preston sign and then the Blackpool one, both of which had been in need of a facelift for many years.
He was thanked during last week’s council meeting, when it was decided to write a letter. stating the council’s appreciation of his efforts and by recognising them with a commemorative certificate or badge of the town crest.
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Weather for Longridge
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
