Pub manager attempting to stop Nigels from going extinct hosts festival for everyone called Nigel
A pub manager is pulling out all the stops to help resurrect the extinct name known as 'Nigel'. Check one of his 'Nigel' festivals out below:
'Ain't nothin' but a Nigel party' are, for sure, the lyrics Tupac would have rapped on 'Gangster Party', if his name was indeed Nigel.
Well, the name 'Nigel' is of Celtic origin and comes from the name Niall, meaning 'champion'.
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However, the name certainly hasn't been championed in recent years as the ONS claims the name is now becoming extinct in the UK.
Yet it seems that Landlord Nigel Smith wants to change this downward trend as soon as possible as he often stages a festival for men with the name.
Remarkably, hundreds of Nigels turn up from all over the world.
In 2019 he helped break the record for the largest gathering of Nigels after 432 joined him for a pint.
This year he was hoping to break his record, however, only 372 Nigels turned up to the event - which is still pretty impressive.
The oldest Nigel in attendance was an 84-year-old from America, whilst the youngest Nigel was in his 30s.
Others also travelled from Los Angeles, Florida and Texas to Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Spain.
Entertainment was provided by other Nigels - two DJs, an MC, a comedian, a busker, and even a group of Morris dancers all called Nigel as well.
The second ever 'Nigel Night' raised more than £3,000 for British Heart Foundation, with the pub landlord planning to host it again in 2025.
Nigel said: "It was absolutely brilliant. We had a fantastic time.
"It was like we all had known each other forever, but obviously we didn't. It was a great feeling of all of us getting together and celebrating our Nigel-ness.
"Times are pretty difficult at the moment for many of us so it was great to be able to get together for a party.
"We just had a jolly fine time.
"Tradition is something you do twice, that's the rule, and we shall do it again. I think we're encouraged enough to say every two to three years, we'll do it again, definitely.
"We had people from all over coming to the event. Our friend from Texas - Texas Nigel - came for the second time, only to be joined by another Texas Nigel.
"One Nigel came from the Isle of Wight so we had to give him an award for the longest travelled Nigel in the UK.
"People who came this time heard about us three years ago and put it in their diaries.
"We were running shuttle buses from our local town and hotels so that all the Nigels who had travelled were able to get here and perhaps enjoy a beer or two and not have to drive home.
"We had a 14-week-old puppy called Nigel as well, which was nice - but he didn't say very much!
"We are uniting Nigels from all across the world, and we would like to reach out to and invite all Nigels - and all non-Nigels - to come along and join us next time in 2025."
Anish Vij