Students at the University of York are campaigning to raise funds to commemorate the passing of a beloved local celebrity: Long Boi, the Duck of York. Missing, presumed dead, students are seeking £10,000 to erect a lifesize (2ft 4in) statue of their long-necked icon. The “much loved character” had a fanbase far beyond campus, with special mentions from the likes of James Corden and even an epitaph from BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James on his breakfast show last week. Like most modern starlets, Long Boi’s fame can be attributed to his Instagram account @longboiyork which boasts 61,000 followers and a blue tick. It also offers a range of merchandise including “i long 4 u” stickers and “Long Boi Fan Club” tees – must-haves for any self-respecting mallard mourner.
Photograph longboiyork/Instagram