Towering duck named Long Boi honored at service.

The University of York has recently paid tribute to a very special and beloved duck, Long Boi, who captured the hearts of many and became an online sensation. It all began in 2019 when Long Boi arrived at the university and gained popularity after a social media post mistakenly described him as the tallest mallard duck to ever exist at over 1m tall. However, it was later clarified that his actual height was around 70cm. Despite this, Long Boi continued to charm everyone with his charming personality and friendly demeanor.

Sadly, in May of 2023, the university announced that Long Boi had gone missing and was presumed to have passed away after not being seen for two months. This news was met with great sadness and the university wanted to honor his life and legacy in a special way. And so, on a Thursday morning, a statue was unveiled during a ceremony in the university's Central Hall. The unveiling was led by popular BBC Radio 1 host Greg James, who expressed the importance of recognizing the joy and happiness that "silly things" like Long Boi bring to our lives.

The statue, which was a life-sized sculpture of Long Boi, will be placed near the lake at Derwent College, one of his favorite spots at the university. It was created by Neil Mason, an award-winning wildlife sculptor, who hand-carved a clay mold before it was sent to Greece for bronze casting. The students' union of the university raised the funds for the statue, stating that Long Boi will always hold a special place in their hearts.

During the ceremony, various celebrities and notable figures paid tribute to Long Boi, including cricketer Jonny Bairstow and actors Andrew Garfield and Jodi Whittaker. The university's Sing Song Society even performed a special version of the song "Hot To Go" by Chappell Roan, dedicated to Long Boi. And when the statue was finally unveiled, there was even a minute of quacking to honor the beloved duck.

In an interview before the ceremony, University of York's vice chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, shared his personal experiences with Long Boi and how he became a symbol of community and brought people together. He also mentioned how Long Boi's friendly and engaging personality left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

The ceremony was filled with laughter and fond memories of Long Boi, and the university's art curator, Helena Cox, even shared a fun tradition among students where they believe rubbing Long Boi's beak brings good luck, genius, and success. She encouraged everyone to continue this tradition with the newly unveiled statue, stating that they have the curator's blessing.

The statue of Long Boi will forever stand as a reminder of the joy and happiness he brought to the university and its students. He may no longer be physically present, but his legacy and the memories he left behind will continue to live on in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him.

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