[1][2] The group formed in 1983 and consisted of solicitor Freddie Drabble, chiropodist and rock and roll historian Charles White, accountant Chris Found, teacher Geoff Nunn, bookmaker Cecil Ridley and Pilkington Glass marketing manager Bryan Dew.

[3] The group's protests included dressing as undertakers and hooded figures to chase holidaymakers along the beach and gatecrashing other events, carrying jars of murky seawater.

The Sons of Neptune were opposed by Scarborough Borough Council and local tourism businesses as they thought the publicity about sewage was bad for trade.

The Sons of Neptune's most famous stunt was the "Thatcherloo", a dinghy resembling a giant toilet that was piloted down the River Thames past the Houses of Parliament.

[2] Yorkshire Water subsequently built new ultra-violet sewage treatment plants at Scarborough, Whitby, Bridlington and Filey.