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.
