This celebration was held on Friday, August 7 and included a speech by the chairman of Braintree Council, Councillor Richard van Dulken, who recognised Buddy's contributions to the community. Buddy the Braintree Boar was first designed as part of a competition in March last year, where more than 2,300 entries were submitted by schools and community groups in the area. Buddy the Braintree Boar (Image: Braintree Town FC)As well as serving as a football mascot, Buddy is part of a campaign to encourage more young people in the Braintree area to become the next generation of sports enthusiasts. In the year since he was first revealed, Buddy has attended events in the area, often visiting schools and businesses to donate raffle prizes to support various fundraisers, charities and community initiatives. Buddy has also gathered a following on social media, with more than 4,000 followers keeping up-to-date with his activities, and has released his own cuddly toy version.