In a move that has left Fitzrovia residents baffled, amused, and occasionally envious of his chocolate intake, Seb Carlton, 34, has pledged to celebrate Easter every single day this year. His ambitious mission is to raise funds for the Cleveland Street Monkey Sanctuary, a haven for rescued monkeys that once had a turbulent past as part of dodgy magic acts and questionable research labs.
“I wanted to do something meaningful,” Seb explained from his flat, which now resembles a cross between a church hall and a confectionery warehouse. “Easter is all about new beginnings, and I thought, why not give the monkeys a fresh start while having a bit of fun with it?”
The Easter Extravaganza Schedule
Every day in Seb’s Easter odyssey starts with a festive egg hunt. Friends, neighbors, and occasionally bewildered tourists have been invited to participate in what has become a daily Fitzrovia tradition. “You’d think finding hidden chocolate eggs in the same one-bedroom flat every day would get old,” said his landlord, Bertie Flummox. “But somehow, Seb keeps it fresh. Last week he hid eggs in the toaster, the kettle, and even in the fishtank.”
After the egg hunt, Seb dons an Easter Bunny costume to deliver chocolates and daffodils to random passersby on Cleveland Street. “One guy thought I was trying to sell him something and threw a KitKat back at me,” Seb admitted. “But most people love it, especially the kids.”
Afternoons are dedicated to his pièce de résistance: the daily Easter banquet. Friends and supporters gather around a table groaning under the weight of roast lamb, hot cross buns, and enough Cadbury Creme Eggs to fill a small truck. “It’s not exactly cheap,” Seb said, “but people are donating generously, and I’ve started swapping Creme Eggs for bananas to keep the monkeys in the sanctuary happy.”
Community Reaction
The people of Fitzrovia have embraced Seb’s unusual fundraising efforts, though not without some skepticism. “I think it’s great what he’s doing,” said florist Mavis Parsnip, who has been supplying Seb with daffodils at a discount. “But I’m worried he’ll burn out by mid-July. I mean, how many Easter bonnets can one man wear before he cracks?”
Others have expressed concern for Seb’s health. “He’s been eating chocolate every day for months,” said local GP Dr. Henrietta Crust. “I’m not saying it’s dangerous yet, but I’m keeping an eye on him. And his cholesterol.”
Monkey Business
Despite the eccentricity of his campaign, Seb’s efforts have already raised over £12,000 for the Cleveland Street Monkey Sanctuary. The funds will go towards building a new climbing frame for the sanctuary’s most mischievous resident, a capuchin monkey named Sir Swingalot, and installing a state-of-the-art banana storage system.
“Seb’s been incredible,” said sanctuary manager Fiona Prattle. “The monkeys love him—well, they love the bananas he sends us. And frankly, they’d probably love the chocolate too, but we’re not going there.”
Challenges Along the Way
Of course, celebrating Easter every day hasn’t been without its hurdles. Seb recently ran out of pastel-colored bunting, prompting a late-night crafting session involving crepe paper and some questionable glue. He’s also faced logistical challenges when trying to secure a fresh supply of hot cross buns outside of the usual Easter season.
“The bakery staff think I’m mad,” Seb confessed. “But I’ve convinced them to make a batch once a week. I promised to name one of the climbing frames at the sanctuary after them—‘The Baker’s Perch.’”
Plans for the Future
Seb plans to keep his Easter celebrations going strong until December 31st, at which point he’ll host a “Grand Finale Easter” at Fitzroy Square. The event will feature an enormous egg hunt, a petting zoo (with monkeys, of course), and what Seb is calling “the world’s largest Easter bonnet parade.”
When asked what he plans to do after his year-long Easter odyssey, Seb shrugged. “I’ve heard Christmas every day is already taken,” he said. “Maybe I’ll do Pancake Day next year. The monkeys could use a pancake-shaped climbing wall.”
For now, Seb remains Fitzrovia’s very own Easter ambassador, bringing joy, chocolate, and a touch of madness to the neighborhood—all in the name of monkeys. If you’d like to support Seb’s efforts, donations (and daffodils) can be dropped off at his flat or sent directly to the Cleveland Street Monkey Sanctuary.
As Seb himself puts it: “Every day is Easter when you’re saving monkeys.”
