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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

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Nick Lovatt first moved to Lamma in 1982 and began earning a small living by helping people move home. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Nick Lovatt hasn’t shaved since his wedding to Finnish wife Marilena more than 20 years ago.

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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.

Lamma is the perfect retreat from the high rises of Hong Kong Island. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Lamma is the perfect retreat from the high rises of Hong Kong Island. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Subsequent Photoshopped adaptations of the image showed him hanging out with actor Danny DeVito and US presidential candidate Donald Trump. The series became a huge hit online, with many commentators keen to know the identity of the shaggy-haired traveller.
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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.

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