COMPANY boss Mark Skerrett accused festival organisers of being “childish” after they strung ladies underwear outside his window a year after he complained that Jubilee bunting in the town resembled a grandma’s washing line.
The five metre length of bunting has been used to decorate his computer graphics premises in High Street, Chatteris.
Mr Skerrett described the actions of the midsummer festival committee as a “childish and personal kick in the face”.
But organisers insist it was as a tongue in cheek salute to the businessman who helped bring the town national publicity with his stinging rebuke of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bunting.
They insist it is a good natured, fun-poking gesture, made without any harm intended.
In recent days Chatteris High Street has been decked in home-made bunting, made by teams of volunteers, ready for the town’s festival at the end of the month.
As a cheeky little extra a line of red, white and blue coloured clothing, including Union Jack ladies pants, boys’ boxer shorts, socks and pyjama bottoms, has been put above Mr Skerrett’s business.
Mr Skerrett, 52, of Commercial Graphics, said he voiced his opinion last year that the bunting looked tatty and now he has been hit with a personal attack.
“Last year it was grand dads’ pyjamas and this year they have dug deeper and found ladies knickers.”
Festival chairman Sharon Selman said the committee had limited funds and could not afford fancy decorations.
“All the bunting is made by volunteers with donated fabric as a community project.
“To then complain about that is not very community spirited,” she said.
“We heard Haverhill spent £5,000 on their bunting but if we spent that sort of money we would have nothing left to hold the great events we stage for the festival.”
Committee member Sue Elam said it was a tongue in cheek gesture while town councillor Florence Newell said: “It’s all done in good humour.
“The committee works extremely hard and I don’t think they mean anything bad about it.”
Katrina Seward, who works opposite and is faced with looking at the bunting from her office widow, said: “With the ladies pants maybe we could play guess who owns the underwear, but to be honest, having boys pants on there is a bit weird and wrong.”
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