The King Conker of the World Conker Championships has announced his retirement from the ceremonious role “with great sadness”.
David Jakins has undertaken the honorary mascot job at the annual autumn event for the past two decades.
The new king for Sunday’s showdown in Northamptonshire will be Jim Packer, with Jakins’ daughter Fee Aylmore becoming Queen Conker.
Jakins said: “It is with great sadness that I step down from my role as King Conker after 20 wonderful years. However, I am extremely pleased to pass this role on to my daughter, Fee, who will be a wonderful queen.”
Organisers of the championships, which sees contestants from across the globe flock to Southwick each year to smash the conkers of opposing players, said Jakins had retired “due to reduced mobility”.
His reign has not been without controversy after he became embroiled in cheating claims when he won the contest in 2024 – allegedly with a steel conker. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Packer, who is the organising group’s chairman, said of his new role: “I have big boots to fill, but I now know how King Charlie feels.”
He admitted the role would not be too different from what he currently does, but a special green cape is being made for him – and he will also have a crown fitted on the black top hat he normally wears.
“They needed someone to do it and thought I was the better choice,” he said.
He added that his predecessor was “an all-round good-egg” and “it was very good” that Aylmore – the women’s world champion in 2022 – was now queen.
Aylmore said: “It is a great honour to take over from my dad, who loved his conkers and served with honour all these years. His will be a hard act to follow.”
Organisers stressed they were seeking “better names” for the two mascots in future, as the titles King and Queen could often be confused with the winners of each year’s contest.
They said the title “Conkey McConkface” had been deemed “too obvious”, but they wanted an “alliterative, suitable for a man and woman, and which gives a good idea of the honorary role”.
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