Job Of The Week (6)

A fish supper is a British seaside tradition, but so aggressive and determined are seagulls that having enough time to eat them is becoming a challenge. With the cost of fish and chips rocketing, by around 19% for the year ending in March 2023, according to the Office of National Statistics, the largest increase amongst takeaway meals, it is fast becoming an expensive luxury, too costly to share with some marauding birds.

Alex Boyd, owner of Mister Chips in Whitby, has come up with an innovative solution to dealing with the seagull pest. He has employed 18-year-old Corey Grieveson at a rate of £200 a day to don a giant, inflatable eagle’s costume and patrol up and down the harbour, charging at any groups of seagulls that have the audacity to make their presence known. He also is on the look out for any gulls that are near people and runs at them to scare the gulls off. People seem to love the service, even, inevitably, asking to take photos of Corey.   

However, the seagulls seem to have the last laugh. Corey is forever having to clear their droppings from his car.

Still, there could be worse jobs.