Funeral to be held for local duck in Somerset village

Desmond Drake had been at the pond in Compton Martin for more than 25 years

Serina Sandhu
Thursday 28 May 2015 16:32 BST
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The Ring O'Bells pub announced the death of Desmond Drake
The Ring O'Bells pub announced the death of Desmond Drake

Residents from a village in Somerset will hold a funeral for an “icon” this week - their local duck.

They were saddened when they discovered that the duck, called Desmond Drake, had been eaten by a fox. He had spent more than 25 years at the village pond in Compton Martin.

“He became family, he became a village icon. There was even a little society, the blood of the duck, and we would drink whisky with a duck egg in,” said resident Andrew Griffiths.

He told Western Daily Press: “[Desmond Drake] has been a permanent fixture of the pond, for in excess of 25 years, outliving all his contemporaries.”

The male duck, well known for eating stale bread, would be “sadly missed” said Griffiths, adding that he could never be replaced.

The 68-year-old said that he had brought “joy and happiness to people of all ages”.

The village church’s flag will be lowered to half-mast and a wake for Desmond Drake will be held at the pub, The Ring O’Bells, although a date has not yet been decided.

“We will all have a drink in the pub. He was a very long serving duck and a member of the community,” said Griffiths.

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