‘Mystery Daubers’ of Durham unmasked after 60 years

By Milly Moore

The ‘Mystery Daubers’ have been ‘unmasked’, almost six decades on from their time as undergraduates at Durham University.

Richard Adams and Geoff Howard confess in an interview with Palatinate regarding their upcoming book that they are the students behind the notorious ‘Mystery Dauber’.

This is the legend of the Durham student who painted over double yellow road lines at night in an aesthetic protest, coining the name ‘dauber ’ (often translated as a person who paints poorly).

The speculation around the identity of the ‘Mystery Dauber’ is legendary folklore in the north-east, with The Northern Echo and even Palatinate covering the story in the 1960’s.

Palatinate covered the story in light of the culprit painting over the yellow lines outside of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. At the time, it was rumoured that the painting over of the yellow lines was a statement against “bureaucracy”.

… it was rumoured that the painting over of the yellow lines was a statement against “bureaucracy”

Palatinate wrote that “the mystery dauber is reputed to have been a man in a duffle coat with a stocking over his face”, reporting that “he seemed to have a hunchback, but this may have been padding”. 

Almost sixty years on, Palatinate has finally completed its mission and found the culprits. Richard Adams explains that he used a cushion stuffed down his duffle coat to create the infamous hunched-back appearance.

The news broke in an interview for a profile piece with Palatinate, where Richard and Geoff were explaining the concept behind their soon-to-be-published book ‘The Phantom Daubers of Durham’.

The book anecdotally expresses the rebellious pranks and protests they had gotten away with during their time as undergraduate students at St. John’s College, Durham, in 1965. 

Image of Geoffrey Howarth, taken by Richard Adams