TODAY (May 16) marks the 22nd anniversary of a visit to Rhyl for then-deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, which went somewhat awry.

Prescott, who was born in Prestatyn in 1938, was hit in the face by an egg on May 16, 2001 as he made his way to a Labour Party rally at the Little Theatre in Rhyl prior to the 2001 UK general election.

Craig Evans, an agricultural worker from Denbigh, threw the egg, and was subsequently punched in the face by Prescott in retaliation.

A brief scuffle then took place, which involved Prescott being pushed into a wall before Evans was escorted away.

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Following the incident, Prescott said: "I was attacked by an individual. In the melee that followed, I clearly defended myself.

“I believe that someone is now being questioned by the police, and it would be quite improper and quite wrong to add any further comment."

Labour launched its manifesto, “Ambitions for Britain”, on the same day, ahead of the election on June 7, which the party enjoyed a landslide victory in.

Rhyl Journal: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is surrounded by protesters as he arrives at the Little Theatre, in the North Wales seaside resort of Rhyl where he was to address a Labour Party rally. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is surrounded by protesters as he arrives at the Little Theatre, in the North Wales seaside resort of Rhyl where he was to address a Labour Party rally. (Image: Dave Kendall/PA Wire)

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Prime minister Tony Blair had been confronted by a relative of a cancer patient in a Birmingham hospital that day, while home secretary Jack Straw was also jeered at a conference of the Police Federation of England and Wales.

Prescott, who arrived on a bus in Rhyl bearing the name “The Prescott Express”, refused to apologise, despite being urged to do so by Alastair Campbell, Downing Street’s director of communications.

Roughly 30 protesters were found outside the Little Theatre by the time he arrived shortly after 6.30pm, demonstrating against low agricultural wages and Labour's support for a fox hunting ban.

Rhyl Journal: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is surrounded by protesters as he arrives at the Little Theatre, in the North Wales seaside resort of Rhyl where he was to address a Labour Party rally. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is surrounded by protesters as he arrives at the Little Theatre, in the North Wales seaside resort of Rhyl where he was to address a Labour Party rally. (Image: Dave Kendall/PA Wire)

Both Prescott and his team had to walk along a pedestrian crossing on Vale Road to reach the Little Theatre, which resulted in him being egged.

Evans was identified as the culprit by his girlfriend, who said: “He's a placid lad who has never been in trouble.

"Craig threw an egg at Mr Prescott, who was walking past after getting off the battle bus. Then, Mr Prescott grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and thumped him."

A miniature plaque was also erected in Rhyl in 2015 to commemorate the incident.

Prescott acknowledged the incident on this day last year, with a tweet saying: "21 years ago today," followed by emojis of a fox, an egg, and a clenched fist.

Neither he nor Evans were charged with any criminal offence.

Prescott would return to Rhyl some nine years later to back Chris Ruane’s campaign to become MP of Vale of Clwyd, even posing with a Creme Egg and a boxing glove on that occasion.