Bernard ‘Bunny’ Newton was a Grimsby Skipper who became legendary during the Cod Wars.

His fame came when he was sentenced to three months in prison, for breaking out of Reykjavik Harbour in 1968 taking with him two Icelandic policemen. 

The trawler Brandur had been impounded for fishing inside Icelandic waters.

His father and grandfather had both been fishermen, and Bunny and three of his brothers followed in their footsteps. He earnt his nickname, The Beast, for the strict discipline he kept on board his trawlers. His tough reputation with his crew was legendary.

Born in 1924, he spent 37 years at sea, and in later years ran a few bingo halls. He married Kathleen Reed in 1945, and the couple lived for many years in Scartho.

Bunny was a larger-than-life character and his nightclub Bunny’s Place, which opened in the 1970s, brought brightness to Cleethorpes with a host of stars including Tony Christine, Bruce Forsyth and Frankie Howard performing there over the years.

Bunny was killed in 1991 after being shot by his eldest son Clifford, who served time for the murder.