Nick the Bookman: Lamma’s number one hippie reflects on more than three decades in Hong Kong
Nick Lovatt is one of Lamma Island’s most famous characters, helped by his trademark, flowing beard – and he wouldn’t be anywhere else
Nick Lovatt hasn’t shaved since his wedding to Finnish wife Marilena more than 20 years ago.
As a result, one of Lamma Island’s much-loved characters, known to locals as Nick the Bookman, is often a person of interest for tourists, intrigued by his untameable beard.
His notoriety has even resulted in him being exemplified as a typical Lamma resident in the 2014 Mandarin edition of a Hong Kong Lonely Planet book. He has also been featured as himself in an illustrated children’s book produced by a Lamma-based author.
More recently he became the focus of an amusing picture series online after a photo of him reclining on a sofa on the Lamma ferry was shared on Facebook.
Lovatt, who does not own a computer or a smartphone, says he enjoys hearing about the attention he receives online from friends rather than having to face it directly.