A
man who played the part of the "Fat Controller" during Thomas the
Tank Engine events on a preserved steam railway in Devon has been
demoted -- for having a beard.
The company which licenses the use of the children's characters objected
to the beard because the "real" fat controller is clean shaven.
The South Devon Railway runs popular Thomas the Tank Engine Days at
Buckfastleigh Station. Earlier this year they were visited 'incognito'
by a representative of the company which licenses the brand, who spotted
their Fat Controller had a beard.
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The
railway will now have to find a replacement Fat Controller
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This is against
the company's rules, because the character in the books is clean shaven.
John Keohane is now facing the prospect of being a mere guard at the
next Thomas event.
The licensing company, Gullane, which owns the rights to the Thomas
the Tank Engine, says it will not allow the railway to hold any more
Thomas days unless their Fat Controller either shaves off his beard,
or they replace him with a new, clean-shaven Sir Topham Hatt.
Richard Elliot, the railway's general manager, is now reluctantly
looking for a replacement: "Our position is that John Keohane is the
best man for the job and I don't think anyone would argue with that.
He is the right size and shape to take on the role.
"John is used to dealing with the public, he has a very commanding
presence when he is the Fat Controller. People listen to him and with
the crowds we have here on a Thomas day we need somebody who is going
to be an authority on the platform."
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John
Keohane dressed for his day job at the Tower of London
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The man himself,
John Keohane, says he is 'devastated' by the ruling, But he is not
going to shave off his beard - because he needs it for his day job,
as a Beefeater at the Tower of London.
"You have to bear in mind what a young child is seeing. It is much
more important that they see a person in uniform portraying what they
are expecting the Fat Controller to do. The fact that I have a beard
is a very small part of the portrayal," said Mr Keohane.
However Gullane insist that it is important to children that the Fat
Controller is clean shaven, because this is what they see in the books
and on television. They say they are not trying to be difficult, and
they are not disputing John Keohane's ability to be Fat Controller. |
