A missing Peter Pan statue, a lost giant mackerel sculpture and a clock that used to be outside Woolworths in Lowestoft - where have they gone?

Lowestoft Journal: The giant mackeral artwork which has been put under lock and key for safe-keeping.The giant mackeral artwork which has been put under lock and key for safe-keeping. (Image: Dick Houghton)

The statue of Peter Pan stood in the middle of a small lake in Kensington Gardens, but was thought to have been removed in 1985.

Mr David Warner, who is a Clerk in Holy Orders from Eye, Suffolk believes the statue was a piece of the region's cultural heritage.

He said: 'Public Records contain an illustrated account of the removal of the statue of Peter Pan from Kensington Gardens in 1985.

'What a triumph it will be to find the answer to a mystery which we had concluded could only come from surviving retired members of the former Waveney District Council, and/or their next of kin.'

The Journal did carry a report in 1984 when the statue was in a workshop being restored after damage, due mainly to vandals.

'Peter Pan' had earlier had his head knocked off on occasions, and an arm.

The Journal has also been contacted by Lowestoft Town councillor Dick Houghton about a missing giant mackerel sculpture from Spurgeon Score.

However he said: 'I have been assured that Waveney District Council has the giant mackerel sculpture in a secure store in safe-keeping from thieves and vandals.'

There are several pieces of artwork in the Scores, some of which has been damaged or has disappeared since installation in 2001-2002 by the council with the help of a EU grant.

Mr Houghton added: 'There was a pair of metal red herring representations but one has been prised off and broken. The red herrings were mounted at the top of Mariner's Score. You can see the marks if the crowbar.

'However, I am glad to say much of the artwork is still in place and is worth looking out for.'

He added: 'This sad tale of minor damage is perhaps a reflection not only of the lack of civic pride on the part of a small minority of our residents or visitors but also of a wider lack of interest in our historic areas on the part of WDC and many of us other residents perhaps (me included until recently) since we have just noticed it.'

There is a weekly Lowestoft Scores Walk on a Saturday, and a Facebook page has been set up to attract more people interested in the history and heritage of the area. The walk starts at 9am at the car park near the entrance to caravan park on Lowestoft North Denes.

Mr Houghton added there was signs of improvement of the Scores: 'Waveney Norse are beginning to tidy them up - litter is being removed weekly and leaves have been cleared this week from Lighthouse Score which was buried deep with them! And one of the dangerous walls is being rebuilt by the adjacent property owner.'

Does anyone have information about where the Peter Pan statue is, or who can shed any light on its history? And where is the Queen Elizabeth clock which vanished from outside the old Woolworth's store?

Please email anne.edwards@archant.co.uk