Named Gilbert after the RNLI lifeguard who first spotted him, he turned out, in fact to be a female.  It is thought that Gilbert took a wrong turn off her migratory path, on the way to the Atlantic and ended up in the exclusive seaside resort.

For a few days Gilbert seemed in good spirits and was seen frolicking between the piers at Bournemouth and Boscombe.  But sadly, after 2 weeks in the area, the whale was spotted in distress by a jet skier. The alarm was raised but she was eventually found dead in the shallows at Alum Chine and hauled onto the beach by tractor

There were rope burns found around her beak and it is believed that she may have been caught up in fishing nets, but the main speculation for her demise was the lack of suitable food. Northern Bottlenoses are deep divers who feed predominately on squid, which provide their main source of water and without this supply it is probable that Gilbert died of dehydration.

Many residents cycle along the promenade at Sandbanks, not only because they care about the environment, want to stay fit and healthy, but purely for pleasure and now Bournemouth Council have seen fit to introduce the draconian, patronising and anti-environmental measure of using speed cameras!

In this day and age would it not be far more responsible for our councils to encourage this form of environmentally friendly commuting and find some sort of compromise rather that alienating the cyclists?