A 70-year-old former taxi-driver has revealed his secret life as "the stupid chicken man" gatecrashing dozens of carnival parades. For the last six years, pensioner Derek Woodward has been dressing up in a home-made costume and tagging along uninvited at events across Gloucestershire.
Organisers tired of his recurring antics nicknamed the mysterious character the "stupid chicken man". To their relief, at the same time as identifying himself, Mr Woodward announced his retirement, saying that his feathered bird's head had become too heavy.
Mr Woodward said: "I have been round to all the carnivals, in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bishop's Cleeve, Tewkesbury, and I don't get paid for it, I just like to have some fun. I am known as the stupid chicken man and I never get invited. I always just jump onto the end of the procession.
"I was dressed up as a chicken at Gloucester Carnival once and sat down on a bench by my next door neighbour, he didn't recognise me at all. My neighbours do see me walking to the car with the outfits but they know I am a bit of an eccentric." However, he won't be throwing away his costume, just in case the whim takes him once more: "I may still make an appearance now and then," he added.
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