From Norman to Nansi to Chunk: The Origins Of Our Mascot

If you were born before the 2010's and recognise the ape sitting proudly on the roof of our workshop, you're not seeing things...

Chunk's life began as Norman, the Mumbles Pier monkey that held swings for children to use on their visits to Swansea's famous landmark.

Photo: Media Wales via WalesOnline

However, the 10-foot fibreglass primate Norman soon became known by a different name after a heist in 1999 where 4 balaclava-wearing thieves in military uniform took Norman "hostage" and escaped the scene by boat. Norman was gone.

Awards were offered for the safe return of Norman to Swansea, but only clues were provided as to his whereabouts with pictures and messages being sent in. Identifying the images and the possible locations he was being held in was narrowed down eventually, Norman was rediscovered at a strip club in Brighton. How the person who saw the images recognised the building and setting Norman was being kept in is anyone's guess... we're not going to speculate.

However, Norman was no more! The thieves had attached a couple of fireman helmets to the chest of the ape with the aid of some cement, before applying a bikini paint job to complete Norman's new identity, 'Nansi'.

Nansi was returned to Mumbles Pier in 1999 and continued to fulfil swinging duties for over two decades. However in 2020, the pier started to go through extensive restoration work and during this process, Nansi was accidently damaged.

Fortunately Nansi's life took a turn for the better in 2023 when Dan Faull saw the famous Swansea and Mumbles monkey whilst doing work for pier owners the Bolloms. The damage at the time looked irreparable but Dan thought there may be a chance to restore this monkey back to its best. Nansi was badly damaged and it was agreed could never be strong enough to go back on the pier or have people swing on the arms.

Realising this, the Mumbles Pier owners asked if he could adopt the primate and give it a new lease of life, he agreed and Nansi was relocated to our workshop to undergo some much needed repair! Dan realised he had found the perfect mascot for his new affordable rustic industrial furniture business venture as well as a name for it; Chunk Monkey was soon to be born!

When Nansi made it to the Swansea workshop, there was a large quantity of refurbishment needed to get the monkey looking back to its best. Both breasts were smashed off along with extensive damage to the face and internal metal structure. it was decided that due to the damage to the breasts that 'Chunk' would be going back male.

Dan fixed it up with more fibre glass, filler and resin to get the ape back to looking brand new and ready for an extensive makeover that local Swansea artists Hasan Kamil and traditional sign writer Leon Anderson provided a fresh lick of paint. Chunk was born!

For the majority of the time, Chunk can be found on the Swansea rooftop overlooking the yard that Crafty Smuggler Coffee, The Chopping Block Barbershop, The Box Furniture and Chunk Monkey share, but Chunk's life is not solely on the Western Street roof. Those who were in attendance at Swansea's  Mumbles Raft Race 2024 may have seen him floating at sea Raising money for the Mumbles Lifeboat whilst introducing our new range of affordable rustic furniture. We are aiming to get him back out there in 2025 so make sure to show chunk and the crew your support!

You may also have seen Chunk at the Chunk Monkey stand in the Swansea Air show. Chunk Monkey and Chunk aim to be back this summer at The Swansea Air Show displaying our rustic industrial furniture and merchandise. Be sure to visit and have a selfie with Chunk!

Chunk and the Chunk Monkey team will also be visiting a number of events and festivals across South Wales over the coming months and we will update our events page on our website as we confirm our space. You can find our events page by clicking here. 

 

The story behind Norman/Nansi/Chunk that has unfolded over the past 30+ years is extraordinary and we look forward to extending that legacy further... it's not bad for a 10-foot fibre glass monkey hey!