Burnham-On-Sea man wins bizarre Turnip Prize anniversary present

Published: January 30, 2007
Burnham-On-Sea man wins bizarre Turnip Prize anniversary present

A Burnham-On-Sea man has been in the media spotlight this week after buying his wife an unusual wedding anniversary gift.

Morley Howard, a regular contributor to Burnham-On-Sea.com's discussion forums, decided to get something a little different after forgetting to buy anything for his tenth - or tin - anniversary.

After searching through eBay, he came across a piece of art called Torn Beef. The item was the winning entry in Wedmore's annual Turnip Prize, a satirical art contest in which competitors put the least effort into designing something.

The organisers of the event decided to auction off all the pieces to raise money for village hall funds and Morley went for the work of artist Ian Lewis - an opened corned beef tin.

On Monday (January 29th), he was presented with the item during a presentation in front of various photographers and radio interviewers at the New Inn in Wedmore.

He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "I have followed the Turnip Prize for some time. As I'd forgot my tenth wedding anniversary - which is a tin celebration - this is why I bidded to win it."

"It's not a bad piece of art as a gift for our anniversary. But as my wife, Jo, is a vegetarian and the corned beef tin was unwashed, I won't describe her looks for the belated present!"

Morley won the item on eBay for just 99p, but donated £10 to the cause.

Morley is pictured being presented with the item during a presentation at The New Inn in Wedmore watched by, below, Morley's wife, Jo, and daughter Jazzy.