Tuesday 14 October 2008

Watch The Unveiling Of The Les Dawson Statue Live!



The larger than life bronze statue of Les Dawson, to be erected in Lytham St Annes, is to be unveiled live on BBC Television.

Over five million viewers will watch as Tracy Dawson unveils the statue of her late husband and comedy legend Les Dawson on BBC1 at 7pm on Thursday 23rd October 2008, in a floodlit ceremony in the ornamental gardens next to St Annes Pier.

The funding for the statue has been generated by an independent committee, who wanted to see a tribute to the popular entertainer placed in the town where he lived for a long period. Last year Fylde Council agreed to find a site for the statue, and earlier this year the ‘sunken gardens’, on the North Promenade in St Annes was chosen.

At the same time exciting plans for a Garden of Fame were also announced, which will feature celebrities past and present who have made a significant contribution to the history and community in the Fylde.

Councillor Simon Renwick, Cabinet Member for Community Services said: “We feel that the ‘sunken gardens’ is a perfect place for the statue, and will provide a perfect home for a tribute to the local comedy legend. We expect the statue to be a major tourist attraction that will draw people into the heart of St Anne’s and boost the regeneration of the whole area. In the longer term we would like to develop the garden around the statue as a peace & sensory garden, which we think will add to the Classic Resort status of St Annes and complement the statue and the other tributes to local celebrities”.

Commenting on the statue following a visit to Sculpture Graham Ibbeson’s studio Tracy Dawson said: “The Sculptor Graham Ibbeson has created a wonderful work of art. The statue is larger than life, just like Les, and it captures his personality perfectly, right down to the twinkle in his eye. Although Les was short in stature his impact on the Fylde coast was phenomenal and the statue will provide a lasting legacy in his name’

After the unveiling of the statue a sparkling Celebrity Gala Dinner will take place at the Grand Hotel in St Anne’s with Frank Carson, Joe Longthorne, Johnny Casson, Paul Shane, Roy Barraclough, Sir Tom Finney and may more guests from the world of show business and sport in attendance, in support of local charities on the Fylde.

Wednesday 4 June 2008

New Statue 'Looks Like Tommy Cooper'?!!..Read On..


DO you recognise this man?
People in St Annes have been delivering their verdict on the statue of Fylde funnyman Les Dawson.
The monument, which is set for a staring role on the town's Promenade, has come in for criticism from Blackpool Gazette readers since it was unveiled earlier this week.

The statue has won the approval of Les's widow Tracy, but some comic fans have even compared the larger-than-life £60,000 statue to another legendary comedian, Tommy Cooper. - What do you think?

Wednesday 28 May 2008

In the Psychiatrist's Chair - Listen Here

Here is the rare classic Les Dawson last interview from Radio 4's 'In the Psychiatrist's Chair' recorded a couple of week before he sadly passsed away.
This is my favourite interview and really revealing about Les's diverse interests.
boomp3.com

Friday 4 April 2008

Exhibition Of 'The Life of Les Dawson' at The Heritage Centre, Lytham

From The Blackpool Gazette;

Treasured possessions belonging to Fylde comic Les Dawson have been unveiled to the public in a special, free exhibition.
More than 200 items of memorabilia, including the comic legend's This Is Your Life books and costumes, are on display at the Lytham Heritage Centre for fans to enjoy.
Tracy Dawson, Les's widow, said: "It's wonderful to put everything on show for the public. There's stuff here
that some people have never seen before. These are the things that we treasure.
"It's all been locked away in the study but it's wonderful that people can have a look around.
"The exhibition is free so they come back at their leisure. I love the presents from fans, the billboards and the
typewriter. Les had an electronic typewriter, but he hated it and insisted on using this old one to write all his
books."
The exhibition will run at the Dicconson Terrace centre until April 27. Exhibition co-ordinator Audrey Kirby said: "People are delighted with it. He was a comic legend, but some people have no idea that he was talented in so many other things. He played the piano and he wrote 13 books. "I think the This Is Your Life books are wonderful. He's the only person to have received two."
Billboards from shows like Strips de Plaisir and Babes in the Wood, books penned by the famous funnyman
and photos of him are also on display, while chuckles can be heard coming from one room at the centre where
video clips of the comic legend's shows are played.
Former Roly Poly star Mo Moreland said: "It's wonderful. There are so many memories that are here for the
public to share. It's nice. Everybody seems to remember him differently so it's great that there's a range of
things here. "My favourite piece is the costume. It was designed by Emanuel – it's beautiful."
Visitors gave the exhibition the thumbs up. Helga and Gordon Taylor came all the way from Southport. Mr Taylor said: "It's very good. I was a big fan. Les gave us a lot of laughter. So it's super to see all these things up close."
Terry Dalton, from St Annes, said: "It's a lovely exhibition. I think it's right that we should recognise a great
man who spent a lot of his life in Lytham in such a prestigious exhibition." The book Les Dawson's Secret Notebooks is on sale at the exhibition, with all proceeds being donated to the Les Dawson charity and the Heritage Centre.
The centre is open Sunday to Tuesday, 10am until 4pm.

Saturday 26 January 2008

This Is Your Life December 1971

Here is a classic very rare 10 minute clip from Les on 'This Is Your Life' from December 1971

Monday 14 January 2008

Les Dawson's Secret Diaries


For all lovers of Les Dawson's humour you must own this new book published October 2007 - its packed with jokes and one liners and is a touching memoir on Les, highly recommended. To buy from Amazon follow this link