Image: Jonathan Couch — Public domainIn Lyme Regis, a peculiar event called conger cuddling drew crowds for decades. Participants aimed to knock each other off flowerpots using a dead conger eel attached to a rope, resembling a game of skittles. Originally organized in the 1970s, the event became a staple of the town's Lifeboat Week, attracting around 3,000 spectators annually during its heyday. Fishermen often caught the eels accidentally, freezing and later thawing them for the competition.
By the 2000s, the event reportedly raised significant funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, averaging around £5,600 each year. However, in 2006, the RNLI deemed it "inappropriate" after an animal rights activist raised concerns about disrespecting fish. This led to the decision to replace the dead eel with a plastic buoy, which sparked disbelief among those familiar with the tradition.
Despite attempts to revive the event, including plans for a return in 2012 during the Lyme Lympics, the conger cuddling could not be resurrected. Reports indicate that on the day of the planned event, it was canceled entirely. The quirky tradition remains a symbol of local eccentricity, remembered fondly by those who participated.
