He's been kidnapped and decapitated and now he's lost an arm... who's been picking on poor Johnnie Walker again?
ONE of the Highland capital’s best known bar characters has been in the wars again.
The iconic life-size mannequin of 19th century whisky magnate Johnnie Walker has lost an arm after a mystery incident while standing outside the Castle Tavern in the shadow of Inverness Castle.
Mine host George MacLean is not sure who or what was responsible – but Storm Henry and late night drinkers have not been ruled out for the late Friday night damage in the beer garden where Johnnie stands.
But it could have been worse…
Back in 2008 the much-photographed striding model of Johnnie Walker triggered a police probe when it was kidnapped from the tavern.
The alarm was raised when regulars leaving the premises after a meal shouted in the style of Jack Nicholson in The Shining movie: “Where’s Johnnie?”
The mannequin was found a few days later lying forlornly in the car park of the local Masonic Lodge but minus its distinctive top-hatted head. George joked at the time: “The missing person inquiry has become a murder investigation!”
Eventually a local man came forward to say he had found Johnnie’s head in his garden.
After extensive repairs with fibreglass, the mannequin was restored to the terrace, where thousands of tourists pose for selfies and snaps with the red-coated figure that has graced the famous square whisky bottles for decades.
George said: “I think it was an attempted kidnap. All the customers had gone when staff found him lying face down with an arm torn off.
“Perhaps there was a struggle during which the arm was broken.”
Now George and partner Veronica are once more seeking the services of a local repairer so that the smartly dressed mannequin can be returned to the beer garden where he has greeted delighted visitors since 2007.
George added: “It is a clean break so I am hoping to find someone with the necessary fibreglass skills to put him together again.
“When Johnnie was kidnapped, his head was knitted on successfully by a local man but he is no longer with us.”
Failing that, Johnnie may have to be returned for repair to Andy Thornton, architectural designer at Elland, West Yorks, who specialises in bar antiques, and sold George the mannequin.
If all goes well, the city’s own Johnnie Walker will soon be living up to the whisky brand’s original slogan: “Born 1820 – Still Going Strong.”
George said that his mannequin is something of a rarity as it was the last made from a mould showing Johnnie striding right leg first. They are now made with the left leg leading.
He added: “Johnnie must be the most photographed attraction in Inverness. Everyone visiting the castle sees him and want to have their photo taken with him.”
The 2008 kidnap and decapitation led to George putting up a case of Johnnie Walker as a reward. He said at the time: “He was there one minute, and gone the next.
“It must have been a passer-by, probably drunk.
“Regulars know how much Johnnie means to the pub. He is part of the furniture.”
The original John “Johnnie” Walker started to sell whisky in his Ayrshire grocer’s shop in 1820.
But it was only after his death in 1857 that the whisky took off, thanks to his son and grandson, both named Alexander. It is one of the most widely distributed brands of Scotch blend in the world with yearly sales of more than 120 million bottles, with its striding emblem becoming famous across the globe.