October 27, 2010 9.32 am This story is over 167 months old

Busker makes video plea for stolen hat

Busted: A man was caught on camera taking a busker’s hat off his head on the High Street on Sunday.

City busker and supply teacher Phil Gray (54) has made a YouTube video asking a man who took his hat to return it to him safely.

Gray was busking at the Stonebow on the Lincoln High Street on Sunday, October 24, when a man walked past and took the hat off his head.

The whole incident was caught on camera, and was used to make a video appeal to the thief to return Gray’s treasured headwear.

Gray says the hat is of big importance to him because he bought it while on a trip to Australia to visit his brother, whom he hadn’t seen for 23 years.

The cowboy-style straw hat is also said to be an important prop for Gray’s gigs, and he would like to be able to perform wearing it this Friday.

The incident was reported to Lincolnshire Police, and Gray claims the man who took his hat spoke to him several times on the day, requesting songs.

Gray has been busking in the city centre several times per week since the summer.