There's been many a snigger and double entendre made about the Nottingham's famous Goose Fair Cock on a Stick.
But after this year's fun-filled spectacular of thrilling rides, hook-a-duck and mushy peas, the fair's oldest tradition will be consigned to history.
Stallholder Ray Brooks, who is fast approaching 89, has decided to call it a day after nearly 70 years of raising a smile at the annual event with the cheeky novelty.
With no-one to carry on the tradition started by his grandfather in the 19th century, the iconic bird will become extinct.
Anyone who has seen his stall at the Forest Reaction Ground will know that the delicacy is a colourful cockerel-shaped lollipop, which comes in three sizes - small, medium and giant.
The pensioner, who says he's never missed a year, makes the cocks by hand at his home in St Ann's - a task he begins in July because it's a slow and time-consuming job crafting and shaping the chewy, sugary birds.
He uses a secret recipe passed down by his grandfather Ben Whitehead, of Arnold.
According to Nottingham Hidden History Team, he created a cockerel rather than a white goose which was already popular more than 100 years ago and the ladies of Nottingham referred to the birds as "cocks".
“I had just come out of the RAF when I started doing this and I’ve never looked back," says Ray, who has the tiniest pitch on the site.
Straight-faced he adds: "There's a lot in a name. A lot of prim young girls say 'I will have one of those' and I say 'one of what?'"
