Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has been made an Honorary Newfoundlander – after taking part in a cermony which involved him kissing a cod!
The ceremony took place during Mr Fabricant’s recent visit to St John’s, the capital of Newfoundland.
Before he could be awarded his Honorary Newfoundlander status on his vacation, the Lichfield MP had to kiss the fish and drink a rum known as Screech and then recite the words “Indeed I is a Newfoundlander, my old cocky. Long may your long jib draw” – a reference to the sail on a fishing boat.
Mr Fabricant explained:
“Newfoundland was British and drove on the left ’til 1949 when they joined Canada. It’s an amazing island to visit – half British, half Canadian. Even their time is strange being three and a half hours behind British time. It’s a vast space with a tiny population and as a consequence there is little crime and everyone greets you in the street. I hope to get back there again! In the meantime, I have brought back a bottle of Newfoundland Screech to keep me warm on cold winter nights in Lichfield.”
