Get the latest news about What's On in Nottingham in your inbox - sign up to our email Count me in! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Nottingham's legendary Cock on a Stick man Ray Brooks says he isn't happy about retiring but he would willingly pass the secret family recipe on to keep the Goose Fair tradition alive.

After nearly 70 years at the annual event, the pensioner behind the sugary lollipops shaped like a cockerel, said this year is likely to be his last.

The retired newsagent, who is fast approaching his 89th birthday, said: "I shall be very sorry to finish. My son doesn't want to know. He'd rather play golf. I can't force him to do it.

"I would pass the recipe on but it's ability that counts. I don't use a mould, they're all shaped by hand."

Crowds of well-wishers have been coming up to the his tiny pitch at the Forest Rec, telling Ray how much he'll be missed and urging him not to retire.

(Image: Dan Westwell)

He was so in demand, that an hour after the fair's official opening today, he hadn't had time to set up his stall properly as he was so busy shaking hands and talking to old friends.

"It is a tradition. It was my grandfather Ben Whitehead back in 1872 who started it at our factory in St Ann's. I started making them in 1950 after I came out of the RAF and I have been making them ever since."

Widower Ray, who lost his wife Sheila two years ago, said he always enjoyed coming to Goose Fair. "The public is wonderful. I come for the people. Everyone likes a bit of a joke and I have a source of it.

"Everyone is so pleased to see me. This is so unique and it's Goose Fair history."

(Image: Dan Westwell)

The cocks, which come in small, medium and giant size and priced from £1.60 to £3.50, are sold with a small card stating: "This is a genuine traditional cock-on-a-stick, Goose Fair, Nottingham, England."

Ray, who has made around 1,000 of the sugary novelties from a workshop in Wollaton Park, said he will have sold out by the end of the five-day event, which runs until Sunday.

"The texture of the toffee has to be just right before they're shaped," said Ray, who adds yellow and red colouring to create the plumage.

A keen golfer, Ray starts making them around July - and they are very weather dependent. Too hot and it takes much longer because of the stickiness.

Christine Hindle, of Woodthorpe, was one of the fair-goers who stopped to chat to the man behind Goose Fair's longest tradition.

"I have known Ray for 49 years. I knew him when he and Sheila had the newsagents in Geding Road. He's a smashing bloke. The fair without Ray? Well, it wouldn't be the same. "