For four months now, he’s been ‘wobbling along the cobbles’.
Come rain or shine, Purpleman has inched his way down Shambles in double slow time.
And as he carried out his slow motion walk, people have dropped money into his buckets – raising funds for York’s health workers who’ve been on the frontline of the Covid crisis.
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Today (Monday) Purpleman finally ended his Shambles shuffle – after 114 days.
His last walk was heralded by York town crier Ben Fry, and cheered on by the shopkeepers of the ancient street, who also signed a card to thank him for his efforts.
As he reached the purple finish line he raised a huge cheer – and celebrated with a special purple brew from the Hebden Tea Company on Shambles.
“I feel very emotional,” he told YorkMix. “There’s a lot of love in York, that’s been outpoured by the independent traders in Shambles and foreign visitors from all around the world who can relate to what we’ve lived through as a planet during this crisis.”
His epic walk has taken its toll, however. “Well, I’ve got big calf muscles. My feet feel really good, although I’ve got a number of blisters.
“I’ve lost two big toenails – pictures available later if you’re interested. So it’s been physically very demanding.”
Mike Gaskell of Shambles Traders paid tribute to PM. “Not only has he done a great job of promoting the street, he’s raised a lot of money for charity.
“What you also don’t know is, he’s like our little angel along the street. He helps visitors to the city to give them guidance about places they can visit. But also he keeps us informed of any little problems that we might have.
“He has done a great job over the last 114 days. And it’s been nice to see him up and down the street. I think it’s done the world of good for the street.”
So, what will Purpleman do next? “I’m not going on a walking holiday,” he said, definitively.