Pisa has its Tower. California its Redwood. London has its Bridge. We have Robin Hood. I am originally from Canada. My net name was and is Maid Marion. (Different spelling) I met MY Robin online and now live in Nottinghamshire. I chat with people all over the world online, and I am always asked "How is Robin"? Besides, He is a tourist attraction. Who could replace him?

Marge Marion
Sutton in Ashfield, Notts.

Robin Hood should be preserved, he is a Legend, for all English people. I came from Surrey originally, but grew up with the tales, and beliefs of Robin Hood. A Great Englishman,there must be some truth in his being???????

Alex Fox
Belleville, On. Canada

How and why did this debate start? Was it from some self righteous left wing lunatic, bred from the same scum who are trying to alter history books so they do not offend. These people are so small minded that the only "jollies" they can achieve in life are those that lead to the destruction of other peoples pride. Robin Hood was as real as any other character of fact or fiction, because he lives in the minds of people throughout the world. Robin Hood and Nottingam are synonymous with each other and is the greatest advert available for our city. Don't do away with our pride do away with these interfering demi-gods who want to make their mark by controlling others. Long live Robin Hood. Death to all would be tyrants!!

Philip Poole
Sutton in Ashfield

Please keep Robin Hood. He is wonderful. Robin Hood fighting oppression and rescuing poor Marian; what a hero, what a heart-warming story. It's the best story for you to have to promote your city; the nicest legend in the whole of England; so would be just crazy to get rid of a statue of him. I just stumbled on this site, looking for images of Maid Marian, which I need for a website. If anyone knows anywhere on the web where I can find nice images of the legendary Maid Marian, please could you email me, and tell me, BTW. I'd be most grateful becuzz I haven't been able to find one.

Mary
Manchester

Robin Hood is 'alive' and is a myth too. He is history and is actually present. Without any doubt he(or 'them') was a kind of scum centuries ago, but isn't that alike for statesmen, kings, religious leaders in their time? May be they needed to be so... Anyway: keep Robin Hood in place and in honour- especially in N'hamshire. We visited town, country and Sherwood Forest in 1998 en told people home about this. Exactly: they asked me "Did you see anything of Robin Hood?" I said "Yes, a lot of!". Keep it that way. Be proud. Enjoy!

Jan Tuttel
The Netherlands

On no account change the symbol which people associate with Nottingham It is seen as a figure of good and not evil - Nottingham needs it! In Portsmouth, they are crying out for an image - we have one - what would we gain from losing it?

Rob Gillard
Portsmouth, Hampshire

Keep the legend of Robin alive but for heaven's sake, lets scrap the awful post-war statue, and start again as its certainly not authentic. The face is clean shaven as a modern man's would be, let's give him a beard as it would have been if he had lived in the Forest. There were no power plugs for electic shavers in Sherwood Forest in those days.

Ray Newton
Nottingham

Please dont get rid of poor Robin Hood my mother is from Nottingham god rest her sole.she told me such wounderful
stories of Robin Hood,When I was a child maybe some people should take a leaf from Robins book. and I guess the word would be a much nicer place.Robin did things for a reason not for the hell of it and besides our children and children to come, need some thing or someone to believe in.

Barrow
Perth,Western Australia

I grew up in the States, but my mum is from Nottingham. Gran still resides in Nottingham, and I think it would be a shame to through away a rich, well loved history. My mother and father were married in the same church as Robin and Marianne. I remember the days of visiting England and going to see the historical landmarks. It to this day gives me a warm comfortable feeling. Please dont let anyone take the wonderful identy and past of this grand city away.

Sean
Tucson/AZ USA

Please don't get rid of Robin.I live in Springfield U.S.A. and when I tell them I come from Nottingham every one say's "oh Robin hood country"

Caroline
Virginia,usa

Hi. My names ANDY. I was born in Nottingham, but live in Invercargill New Zealand now. Robin Hood is a legend over here, People ask you where you are from. You say Nottingham and they say robin hood country. Please don't get rid of him as when I come over I'll show my wife a bit of robin hood country.

Andy Evans
Invercargill, New Zealand

Hi from the land of the long white cloud -New Zealand. I am ex Ilkeston and have never heard of the Derby Ram- can someone please enlighten me? Please leave Robin Hood alone for goodness sake it will be Santa Claus next and the tooth fairy!!!

ann wilson(nee Flint)
Waitakere New Zealand

Political correctness and incessant change, what is wrong with the world today? The destruction of history is every where please don't let them destroy yours, fight tooth and nail if you must, but never give in. Here in Australia we only have a couple of hundred years of history and some are hell bent on destroying it -- nutters all around the world. May your will prevail forever.

Laurie Richardson
Wagga Wagga, Australia

Robin, like so many historical figures from the British Isles, is a burst of colour in an otherwise drab, politically correct modern life. To kill off such a figure is to kill off a significant part of our living history. So, no, keep Robin and his merry men very much alive.

Chris Moseley
Winchester, Hants. UK

Absolutely,YES. What counts is that he is a man, not a building. He gives us a story for us.

hiroshi igo yamada
yokohama, Japan

Scrap it! You can't! Robin Hood was a criminal. We all no that. But Robin Hood is the trade mark of the region! The statue could be done up, (repaired i mean) but not scrapped altogether. I think we could also build a big museum, or structure coming into Nottingham by the M1.!

Timothy Dawson
Arnold, Nottingham

Nottingham 'is' robinhood. he's 'our' heritage. where ever you go if robinhood is mentioned people seem to 'know' were nottingham is. leave him be and think of something that really needs to leave nottingham!

ellie
nottinghamshire

If you scrap robin hood you should also scrap films like the dam busters for in that film they killed more innocent people than in almost any attack the british did .so instead of spending so much money on pulling things down spend on things we love eg ROBIN HOOD

Kevin H
Mansfield

and in reply

Perhaps he would care to explain his comments about the "Dambusters"? I live close to RAF Scampton, the home of the "Dambusters" Squadron and I am proud of the association. Those young men carried out their duty, many giving their lives, in order to defeat the tyranny of Nazi Germany. It is because of the unselfish dedication of these and others like them that we are able to live with the freedom we now enjoy.

Pete Goff
Lincoln

Keep Robin Hood - He is Nottingham.
Legends and History keep us stable.
I am from Nottingham and I have eight grandchildren who have been told Robin Hood's stories from birth. I have just knitted RH & MM for my first grand-daughter, done paintings for their bedrooms and the boys have hats and costumes and books to remind them where they come from. He was my hero and heroes like Robin Hood we need today.Don't destroy Nottingham's History.Even if it's only a legend it brings history of the castle and the kings to the attention of young people, and gets their interest. It is wonderful how much information is on the internet about him. Thanks for this opportunity to vote for Robin Hood.

Rita Petts
Australia

With my grandmother regaling me with stories of Mansfield Woodhouse and the Major Oak and her first ball, and Newstead Abbey I have over the years come to admit that yes! I am a Robin Hood addict notwithstanding the current US version on TV (yech!) Over the years I have read & watched movies Robin HOod Prince of Thieves a hot favourite in our house .TV series books et al and the statues my Gran brought back to New Zealand after her first visit home in 50yrs are much treasured Nottingham would be silly to move away from the Robin Hood Maid Marion Sherwood Forest image as i when Nottingham is mentioned the first image in the mind is - ROBIN HOOD!! We are in the tourism business here in New Zealand and the saying is IF IT AINT BROKE DONT MESS WITH IT!!

Dia McKee
Auckland New Zealand

Every year I take part in the Great Lakes Medieval Faire here in northeast Ohio. We don our costumes and act out the various roles in the Robin Hood legend. Since I’m a musician, I get to play Alan-a-Dale. People by the thousands pay $12.00 each (that’s about £8.30) to enter the grounds and interact with the characters as the play unfolds. Children especially love it, and the lucky kid who gets to arrest the evil Sheriff of Nottingham goes home ecstatic at the end of the day. The next morning, like “Groundhog Day,” the drama begins again. We’re keeping the legend alive even if nobody else is!

Jon
Ohio, USA

I am from Boone, North Carolina. I grew up on the legends of Robin of the Hood, and was especially thrilled when I got to see the 1980s series on BBC. When I took a trip to England in high school the only thing I wanted to do was to go to Nottingham to see all the areas that had been burned into my brain. Please keep Robin Hood; we all need our heroes and legends and Robin Hood is one that makes us all feel good.

Kim Buelow
Boone, NC USA

Robin hood may be considered a criminal to some peoples beliefs, but to the others he is a great men, a man well known accross the globe by adults and children. children love 'the robin hood experience', i did and still do!, i hope that my children one day will be able to live this experience as i did. we should keep the memory of robin hood alive!, he was a great man and is still well known to uphold his name

Adam Chocholko
Stockton-On-Tees, England.

I too think it is amazing that anyone would think of getting rid of Robin Hood. Wherever you go in the world people have heard of him. I only have to mention that I was born in Nottinghamshire for folk to comment oh! Robin Hood country. In 1995 I visited the Robin Hood Experience and thought it was great. As a child I visited the Major Oak. Keep our history alive please.

Aileen Rawding
New Zealand

Robin Hood? Robbing Hood more like. A common criminal, what our colonial cousins refer to as "a dirty rat". If he had wings he could be a pigeon. On that note, a bow and arrow is very little defence against a good 12 bore at close range. He should be shot. And that statue - doesn't he know its winter? More clothes PLEASE!!

Hokum
Nottingham

Born in Nottingham, I agree with the other ex-pats, let's keep Robin Hood. I was a child when I left Nottingham, but have made many visits back. One of the biggest thrills for my children was to see the Great Oak and have their picture taken with Robin Hood outside the Castle wall. I'm sure that no matter where one might travel, Robin Hood is associated with Nottingham. By the way, "Bert" from Nottingham, the last time we visited Nottingham 2 years ago, we felt that it was the most vibrant city that we saw in the U.K. Can't wait to get back again.

Gillian Colville
Victoria, Canada

I feel that its important to have a sense of history and celebrate your heritage. we should feel proud that we have such a renowned and iconic legend attached to our city and county.

Giles Metcalfe
Nottingham

Robin hood gives us an identity. It brings in value revenue and jobs to our town, if any thing i believe we should use him more and capitalise on our legend-many city would do any thing to have an icon such as we have.

Andy
Mansfield

As someone from Nottingham who now lives in West Yorkshire (very beautiful rural part - not Leeds or Bardford)and commutes to Sheffield, I can see why these non-nottinghamians are jealous: Sheffield is 20+ years behind Nottingham and is desperately searching for an image or icon - it has no identity and nothing to attract visitors etc. When I say I am from Nottingham, people know it and most have been there (because they were attracted by business, nightlife etc.). In contrast, I know people from Derby and Leicester who avoid answering this question because, in their words, they come from 'nowhere towns'. Nottingham is special, and Robin Hood helps make it special. Don't you dare change it!

AJ Ellis
Huddersfield

and in reply...

In reply to AJ Ellis and Leicester and Derby people avoiding questions because we come from 'nowhere towns' as they put it. I was brought up in Leicestershire, and remember hearing once that Mr. Hood is actually from Leicestershire. Besides, I think AJ Ellis will find that Leicester is a city, and has been so for a hell of a lot longer than you lot up there (for a start off, the romans had actually heard of us)

Michelle Muschamp
Derby, but born in Leicester!

I have a rather strong opinion about the preservation of local history: I work during the summer at the opera festival in Central City, Colorado (USA), and the neighboring town of Black Hawk has all but obliterated it's historical significance by the building of huge casinos where entire mountains used to be. One historical house could not be moved because of legislation, so they merely carved away the land it stood on for 150 years. The town is no longer beautiful, and gives no impression of the Old West. It threw away it's history and it's identity. The preservation of history and folklore is terribly important and necessary for helping people understand where they've come from, where they're headed, and thus how they fit into the grand scheme of things. The legend of Robin Hood is forever linked to the history of Nottingham, and cannot be carelessly discarded. The story, true or not, is certainly entertaining from a romantic perspective, but the basic human message that it presents can still find some relevance in any century.

Tom Getty
Salt Lake City, UT (USA)

If we, as a city were to get rid of Robin Hood, do you really think we'd get many tourists visiting? Let's try to boost the amount of people coming into the city not reduce it for all our sakes.

Jezz
Nottingham

I was born in Nottingham and very proud to say so. Having children now and telling them about Robin Hood and all the stories. In Australia they do not learn British History. I so teach them about my Home Land . I am researching My Family Tree and will be including the stories about Robin Hood and All about Nottingham where I was born . SO PLEASE KEEP ROBIN HOOD FOR OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. AND THIS GREAT TOWN.

Jill Watson Hambleton
Queensland, Australia

Please keep Robin Hood. He was the original Lone Ranger! For Robin, though, the words "Hi-yo Silver!" would probably have a different meaning. Nottingham without Robin Hood would be like The Loch without Nessie.

Barbara Getty
NJ, USA

Barbara - some sceptics such as myself believe that The Loch has always been without Nessie.

Dan
BBC Nottingham Online

a few years ago i was lucky enough to spend three months of the summer in Canada and met loads of people. whenever the inevitable question about where i came from came up, they always smiled and mentioned robin when i replied nottinghamshire. i love being from here, the robin hood stories are great reading and give me a great sense of 'belonging' to a place. i commute to work in the city every day and always feel happy to arrive, even if it is to work! long live robin and this great british city!

Carl Davis
Sutton In Ashfield, Nottm

I am from Derby and proud of it I am too especially regarding the legend of the Derby Ram which we are proud of. Nottingham is proud of Robin Hood and I believe the legend should always continue, what I don't appreciate or feel should continue is the continual backbiting that Derby is given from Nottingham. Lets have some common sense and ensure the East Midlands sticks together.

Andy Salt
Derby

The residents of Robin Hoods Bay in N. Yorks call their village 'Baytown' and seen ambivalent about Robin Hood. No one there seems to know why that place is called that. Perhaps someone can throw light on this (other) matter?

Maurice
Burton

and in reply to Maurice...

Just in reply to the Maurice from Burton who asked about robin hood's bay - the name doesn't come from Robin Hood, but a corruption of a local Boggart (or Boggle) called - if I remember rightly - Robin O'the Wood. Just Thought you might like to know, it's something I learnt in school.

Paul Dunn
Scunthorpe/England

Keep Robin Hood - he's the only thing the world knows about Nottingham. The castle may disappoint some people but it has its own interesting history. However, we should stop destroying everything old in the city. The caves are Nottingham's really unique thing and people have been filling them in for years.

Carol
Nottingham

Nottingham is an historic city,we have a mixture of the old(after the brutalization of 60's town planning)and the modern,they sit together well,but don't be afraid of or ashamed of our glorious history! If robin hood is to be done away with then lets replace him with charles the first,who without nottm' wouldn't have had such a romp through the english countryside!

283
nottm

I live in Nashville Tennessee and my age is 55. Memories of grade school include reading stories about Robin Hood and Nottingham. Those stories so intrigued me that to this day I follow any information involving the historical search for the real Robin. I dare say that the majority of us Americans are very familiar with Robin and the 'Sheriff of Nottingham'. Someday I hope to visit your great and colorful city. As a previous writer so aptly put it… ‘Long live Robin Hood’

Arnold G Rickert
Nashville Tennessee, USA

I find it absolutley bizzare that anyone would even contemplate scrapping a legend such as Robin Hood as a symbol of a historic town such as nottingham. answer this question, what do tourists from abroad love most about england? A.The history To get rid of such an important part of nottinghams legendary past would be criminal, not to mention tragic. i think the proof of this is right here, the amount of people that have had their say (all in favour of keeping Robin) from all around the world, as well as the residents of this fair city. Robin Hood is a world wide known symbol of the beautiful city that i live in, and that is special to thousands of people around the planet. Anyway, Robin looks alot better in tights than Christopher Dean and Jane Torville put together!!!! Long live the legend of Robin Hood.

Niki 26yrs
Location Unknown

Keep Robin Hood - instead of wasting money finding a "new image", put it towards something useful that will improve the city - reducing the homeless on the city streets for example.

Martyn
Reading (ex Beeston, Nottm)

Speakout asks do we need another image other than robin hood i reply no we dont i live in sutton in ashfield nottinghamshire not too far from sherwood forest only a bus ride away i have been there i love the idea of having robin hood maid marion friar tuck it makes me feel homely robin hood as everybody knows robbed from the rich to give to the poor although stealing is wrong he did it for a good reason the same reason i would to help someone less fortunate than myself its brilliant to know that theres somebody out there that isnt into violence and like me helps others when he can robin hood is a brilliant image for nottingham,shire WHERE HE WAS BORN not yorkshire or america where he wasnt though people say he was and so shouloud to be british and feel safe knowing theres someone out there that still cares apart from elton john that is

Alison Wright
Sutton-in-ashfield, Nottinghamshire

So what if Robin came from Yorkshire. So did Brian Clough, but does anyone remember that.

Richard Wing
Hucknall, Notts

I cannot believe that someone could ever suggest to get rid of the history of Robin Hood. I live in a country where names (streets, towns, cities, airports, etc. etc.) are being changed for political reasons - and there goes a little bit of our own history - gone forever!! Do not change your history Britons - I visited Sherwoord Forest - that huge tree of Robin Hood - still showing photos of it to friends and also still imagining where he walked, sat, bathed, ate, etc. with all his mates - Do not let the reality of the future overpower the past - memories is part of survival - it is part of the past. Good luck!!

Charlotte Kotze
Gordon's Bat

I was talking to people from America yesterday...and i found out that they even study Robin Hood at school!! LONG LIVE ROBIN HOOD!!

Jason
Long Eaton, Nottingham

Why get rid of something that provides an immediate identity with the city of nottingham and county of nottinghamshire? People the world over identify Nottingham with Robin Hood in the same manner that the Eiffel tower is synonymous with Paris and Big ben is a symbol of London. He's a far bigger attraction thatn the Broadmarsh centre, the ice rink, holme pierpont or any other building/attraction you care to mention.

Carl Hathaway
Rochford/Essex

Marketers try to create wholesome, adventurous, enduring images with which to associate their products. Nottingham has an international image that is bomb proof. I grew up reading of the adventures of Robin Hood, as have my children, In all likelihood, their children will dream of Robin and the Merry Men too. Marketers work long and hard to dream up enduring images, but history has presented you with one. How lucky you are.

Ralph Szalay
Toronto, Canada

Robin Hood must be kept as an icon for all Notts people to associate with. He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, unlike our government who rob from the poor to give to the rich.

What we need is a revival of Robin Hood and he can be prime minister!

Alistair
Dunkirk

Are you people nuts? The whole ledgend of Robin Hood is probably what makes England never mind Nottingham one of the coolest places to visit! My grandad was from Southampton and when I come over, one of the first places I want to visit is the ledgendery birthplace of Robin Hood. The Scots have Rob Roy and William Wallace (Viva to the both of 'em), so why not keep Robin Hood? Trust me, England may be cold, wet and drab according to some people but Cape Town has nothing to compare with your historical past. The knob that suggested Robin Hood should be scrapped should be slapped on the noggin! Bah humbug to him! By the way, I am a Southampton football supporter. It's a family thing, I'm sure you'll understand.

Trevor
Cape Town South Africa