Famous Sotonians to be honoured with 'statues' (From Daily Echo)
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Sustrans to honour famous Sotonians with 'statues' on Southampton cycle route
9:22am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News
By Tara Russell, News Reporter
Famous Sotonians to be honoured with 'statues'
HAVE you ever fancied pulling up a seat alongside a legendary Saints player, the man who created the aircraft which helped win the Battle of Britain or one of the most widely read writers in English literature?
Now it’s possible thanks to green charity Sustrans, which is funding a new £5,000 art sculpture.
Famous figures from Southampton’s past and present are to be immortalised in three life-sized statues in the city centre.
And it is up to Daily Echo readers to choose the three people they want to see sculpted out of sheet steel and installed behind a “portrait bench”.
The two-dimensional figures will sit at Horseshoe Bridge on the £1m boardwalk in St Deny’s along the River Itchen by the railway line.
Sustainable transport organisation Sustrans has been given the cash as part of a national £50m lottery funded project.
The shortlist has now been released by the charity – and it is up to you to get voting. On the list is Saints player Matt Le Tissier, Spitfire inventor RJ Mitchell, novelist Jane Austen, Olympic diver Pete Waterfield, King Canute, TV wildlife presenter Chris Packham, women’s rights campaigner Emily Davies, TV gardening presenter Charlie Dimmock, pop star Craig David and Oscar winning animator Suzie Templeton.
Sustran’s Nick Farthing said “portrait benches” are being rolled out across the UK and said the idea is that people will be able to stop and be photographed sitting or standing with the figures.
He said: “It is a chance to celebrate the local characters and give somewhere for people to sit, enjoy the views and just to link in the community with the history and to promote the route.
“This is one of the few places you can get next to the waterside in Southampton.
“We want three people to be chosen so we are urging people to vote through the Daily Echo to tell us who they want to see immortalised.”
Who can you vote for?
R J MITCHELL (1895-1937)
Reginald Joseph Mitchell was a British aeronautical engineer best known for his design of the
Supermarine Spitfire which was crucial to Britain’s victory in the Second World War.
CRAIG DAVID
The Southamptonborn pop star is a Grammy-nominated singer songwriter who rose to fame in
1999 featuring on an Artful Dodger track. Craig David grew up on the Holyrood estate and made music from his bedroom.
KING CANUTE (c.985-1035)
Canute was a Danish King of England who reigned between 1016 and 1035. He was best
remembered for his futile attempt to stop the tide from coming in reputedly near Town Quay in
Southampton. He was buried in Winchester.
JANE AUSTEN (1775-1817)
Former Southampton resident Jane Austen is one of the most widely read writers in English literature thanks to her works of romantic fiction. .
EMILY DAVIES (1830-1921)
Born in Carlton Crescent, Southampton, Emily Davies was an English feminist, suffragist and a
pioneering campaigner for women’s rights to university access.
CHRIS PACKHAM
TV presenter andnaturalist Chris Packham is a wildlife expert, photographer and author with a
passionate concern for conservation and the environment. Born in Southampton in 1961 Chris completed an undergraduate at the zoology department of the University of Southampton.
MATT LE TISSIER
The 44-year-old legendary retired footballer spent his entire club career with Southampton
Football Club and played for the England squad. He currently works as a football pundit.
CHARLIE DIMMOCK
One of Britain’s most recognisable faces, Charlie Dimmock is a gardening expert and TV presenter who was the star of hit BBC show Ground Force.
SUZIE TEMPLETON
Suzie Templeton, 45, born in Sherfield English, near Romsey and grew up in Southampton, is an Oscar-winning writer and director specialising in stop-motion animation. Her work includes the film Peter and the Wolf.
PETE WATERFIELD
The 31-year-old Olympic silver medallist and Commonwealth gold winner, is one of the world’s
elite performers in his sport and lives in Millbrook with his wife Tania and his two young children.
Select the person you want to see immortalised on the ballots below. The three with the most votes will be selected as the winners.
Comments(64)
boobooj
says...
9:50am Thu 1 Nov 12
murfmeister
says...
10:14am Thu 1 Nov 12
boobooj wrote:it's not in Pompey is it?
What an odd place to put a work of art, on a dead end bridge, at the top of an industrial estate / red light district, next to an unlit boardwalk alongside train tracks that offers you a view of mud and litter when the tides out, or brown water when it's in. Couldn't they think of somewhere more suitable?
C2OPPY
says...
10:16am Thu 1 Nov 12
SaintsBTGOG
says...
10:19am Thu 1 Nov 12
try Ken Russell, Benny Hill, Will Champion
stay local
says...
10:27am Thu 1 Nov 12
Avery T Decanary
says...
10:47am Thu 1 Nov 12
Sir John Millais
Jack Mantle VC
William Makepeace Thackery
Sarah Siddons
SO50 Saint
says...
10:47am Thu 1 Nov 12
CHARLIE TAYLOR
says...
10:54am Thu 1 Nov 12
THE MOST FUNNIEST AND SUCCESSFUL PERSON FROM SOUTHAMPTON !!!
CHARLIE TAYLOR
says...
10:54am Thu 1 Nov 12
THE MOST FUNNIEST AND SUCCESSFUL PERSON FROM SOUTHAMPTON !!!
MGRA
says...
10:59am Thu 1 Nov 12
boobooj
says...
11:17am Thu 1 Nov 12
SO50 Saint wrote:THIS
If it's Craig David can they at least do the Bo Selecta version with kez sat on his arm
Inform Al
says...
11:24am Thu 1 Nov 12
Linesman
says...
11:38am Thu 1 Nov 12
Benny Hill, on the other hand, was known world-wide.
He should have been top of the list, instead being omitted.
ToastyTea
says...
11:40am Thu 1 Nov 12
Inform Al wrote:Or maybe, just perhaps, most people do not know who R J Mitchel is (me included) and everyone knows who King Le Tiss is and what he has done for Saints and continues to do in promoting the city.
Currently a footballer from a third rate team seems to be top of the list, ahead of the man who did the most not just for Southampton but for the World. R.J.Mitchel. Seems that all the bigots, cretins etc in Southampton post on this site.
St Retford
says...
11:43am Thu 1 Nov 12
St Retford
says...
11:46am Thu 1 Nov 12
Linesman wrote:I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that Benny Hill had a touch of the Saviles about him. Did anyone see that footage of him chasing a load of young women around a park? That's not right...
Only two of those listed were born in Southampton, and neither of them are particularly well known.
Benny Hill, on the other hand, was known world-wide.
He should have been top of the list, instead being omitted.
ToastyTea
says...
11:46am Thu 1 Nov 12
bazzeroz
says...
11:55am Thu 1 Nov 12
ToastyTea wrote:Wasn't Benny born in Southampton? and worked in Eastleigh as a milkman? His mother and father lived in the Shirley area, something Gardens, the name escapes me now. I worked for a tv rental company in the 70's and when their tv needed a repair Benny would ring up and put on all daft voices, lol. No doubt someone will correct me but I'm sure I'm right.
Re Benny Hill there is a statue in Eastleigh isn't there ? not sure Eastleigh Council would be too happy us trying to claim him as ours.
Cyber__Fug
says...
12:18pm Thu 1 Nov 12
SOUTHY !!!
gristle
says...
12:19pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Cyber__Fug
says...
12:21pm Thu 1 Nov 12
SOUTHY !!!
Sovietobserver
says...
12:38pm Thu 1 Nov 12
bazzeroz wrote:Benny Hill's address was 22, Westrow Gardens in Banister's Park .
ToastyTea wrote:Wasn't Benny born in Southampton? and worked in Eastleigh as a milkman? His mother and father lived in the Shirley area, something Gardens, the name escapes me now. I worked for a tv rental company in the 70's and when their tv needed a repair Benny would ring up and put on all daft voices, lol. No doubt someone will correct me but I'm sure I'm right.
Re Benny Hill there is a statue in Eastleigh isn't there ? not sure Eastleigh Council would be too happy us trying to claim him as ours.
To my knowledge it has never been blue plaqued.
The Music Man
says...
12:58pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Will Champion, Benny Hill, Danny La Rue, Ken Russell and even those guys from Band of Skulls are more famous than most of the people on that list.
May as well chuck in that awful Matt Cardle bloke too - well, he was born here.
megacycle
says...
1:00pm Thu 1 Nov 12
ToastyTea wrote:surely you do know what the spitfire is, and how significant is was in the defeat of hitler.
Inform Al wrote:Or maybe, just perhaps, most people do not know who R J Mitchel is (me included) and everyone knows who King Le Tiss is and what he has done for Saints and continues to do in promoting the city.
Currently a footballer from a third rate team seems to be top of the list, ahead of the man who did the most not just for Southampton but for the World. R.J.Mitchel. Seems that all the bigots, cretins etc in Southampton post on this site.
however, there are already lots of tributes to RJ Mitchell and his creation; I'm not sure this idea is relevant to his memory.
incidentally, my understandind of the Canute story is he wanted to disprove the courtiers who claimed he was divinely empowered to command the tides. he also has plenty of existing tributes.
so I remain undecided.
St Retford
says...
1:01pm Thu 1 Nov 12
The Music Man wrote:Southampton's not got a great musical heritage, has it? Weren't The Delays also from here?
Some of those names are shocking..who wants to look at a statue of Chris Packham or Charlie Dimmock. Fiona Phillips soon got forgotten about...
Will Champion, Benny Hill, Danny La Rue, Ken Russell and even those guys from Band of Skulls are more famous than most of the people on that list.
May as well chuck in that awful Matt Cardle bloke too - well, he was born here.
(They weren't very good either.)
HerbertC
says...
1:08pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Little Hitler
says...
1:13pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Obviously, his contributions to sport are well known (ensuring continued Premier League status for Saints and THOSE goals) but there's also the wider economic benefit that the city has enjoyed as a result of SFC's past success at staying in the top flight.
Possibly also fare to say that St Mary's might not be here if it wasn't for him either.
Little Hitler
says...
1:22pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Inform Al wrote:Yet another moron taking a cheap shot at football fans...
Currently a footballer from a third rate team seems to be top of the list, ahead of the man who did the most not just for Southampton but for the World. R.J.Mitchel. Seems that all the bigots, cretins etc in Southampton post on this site.
If you're so annoyed about this 'injustice', why don't you do something about it rather than complain?
You could perhaps tell us all why we should vote for R. J. Mitchel or (preferably) sod off and do a door-to-door campaign.
megacycle
says...
1:23pm Thu 1 Nov 12
St Retford wrote:Delays formed in Southampton and still have a strong local following. They have recently been recording tracks for a new album and will be playing at the city's iconic Joiners venue next month. their music also features on the BBC world news "football Focus", among others.
The Music Man wrote:Southampton's not got a great musical heritage, has it? Weren't The Delays also from here?
Some of those names are shocking..who wants to look at a statue of Chris Packham or Charlie Dimmock. Fiona Phillips soon got forgotten about...
Will Champion, Benny Hill, Danny La Rue, Ken Russell and even those guys from Band of Skulls are more famous than most of the people on that list.
May as well chuck in that awful Matt Cardle bloke too - well, he was born here.
(They weren't very good either.)
so if you're inclined to criticise, have the decency to use the present tense.
megacycle
says...
1:29pm Thu 1 Nov 12
St Retford wrote:the speeded-up footage of benny chasing scantily-clad adult females was a common feature of his shows. it usually ended with benny being chased away by the females. hardly savile territory.
Linesman wrote:I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that Benny Hill had a touch of the Saviles about him. Did anyone see that footage of him chasing a load of young women around a park? That's not right...
Only two of those listed were born in Southampton, and neither of them are particularly well known.
Benny Hill, on the other hand, was known world-wide.
He should have been top of the list, instead being omitted.
St Retford
says...
1:39pm Thu 1 Nov 12
megacycle wrote:Maybe they've now become amazing, so it was therefore correct to say they 'weren't' very good since now they're obviously better than The Beatles.
St Retford wrote:Delays formed in Southampton and still have a strong local following. They have recently been recording tracks for a new album and will be playing at the city's iconic Joiners venue next month. their music also features on the BBC world news "football Focus", among others.
The Music Man wrote:Southampton's not got a great musical heritage, has it? Weren't The Delays also from here?
Some of those names are shocking..who wants to look at a statue of Chris Packham or Charlie Dimmock. Fiona Phillips soon got forgotten about...
Will Champion, Benny Hill, Danny La Rue, Ken Russell and even those guys from Band of Skulls are more famous than most of the people on that list.
May as well chuck in that awful Matt Cardle bloke too - well, he was born here.
(They weren't very good either.)
so if you're inclined to criticise, have the decency to use the present tense.
I dunno - I saw them once in about 2004 and it was just jingly-jangly indie which was inoffensive enough but didn't really float my boat.
St Retford
says...
1:40pm Thu 1 Nov 12
megacycle wrote:It was kind of a joke.
St Retford wrote:the speeded-up footage of benny chasing scantily-clad adult females was a common feature of his shows. it usually ended with benny being chased away by the females. hardly savile territory.
Linesman wrote:I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that Benny Hill had a touch of the Saviles about him. Did anyone see that footage of him chasing a load of young women around a park? That's not right...
Only two of those listed were born in Southampton, and neither of them are particularly well known.
Benny Hill, on the other hand, was known world-wide.
He should have been top of the list, instead being omitted.
Shoong
says...
1:50pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Norwegian Saint
says...
2:37pm Thu 1 Nov 12
But my top three are
3) Matt Le Tissier
2) RJ Mitchell
1) Benny Hill
andysaints007
says...
5:07pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Inform Al wrote:Of course they do - and you are included in that category too !
Currently a footballer from a third rate team seems to be top of the list, ahead of the man who did the most not just for Southampton but for the World. R.J.Mitchel. Seems that all the bigots, cretins etc in Southampton post on this site.
Chas O'Bursledon
says...
5:38pm Thu 1 Nov 12
andysaints007 wrote:It's tragic that sensible debate cannot take place on these posts. RJ Mitchell is a true hero who's name will live on beyond that of Matt. The place for a statue of the latter is at St Mary's. There's a wonderful statue of Mitchell in the Aviation Museum hidden from public view. But the bigger question is that who will be remembered 100 years from now - the man who designed a plane that saved a nation or ................
Inform Al wrote:Of course they do - and you are included in that category too !
Currently a footballer from a third rate team seems to be top of the list, ahead of the man who did the most not just for Southampton but for the World. R.J.Mitchel. Seems that all the bigots, cretins etc in Southampton post on this site.
Jane Sarah Smith
says...
5:52pm Thu 1 Nov 12
HerbertC wrote:As another person who regularly uses it I have to agree and it will encourage more people to sit there and booze.
Ridiculous place to put statues. I cycle the boardwalk every day and although it's extremely convenient, it's not a pleasant place. I've never seen anywhere that has so much dog poo sitting in piles everywhere - and regularly replenished. It's a dog toilet more than a cycle/foot path. Why would you place statues around there?
SaintM
says...
6:16pm Thu 1 Nov 12
SaintM
says...
6:16pm Thu 1 Nov 12
SaintM
says...
6:16pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Jonny7oma
says...
6:54pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Secondly, are these statues meant for tourists or locals? If for tourists, probably the most world wide known has to be Benny Hill. If for locals of less years than myself then probably Le Tiss deserves it although I'd prefer Mick Channon myself but then I'm that much older than those who would vote for Le Tiss but he is a good representative of Southampton, regardless of his birth place. Of the list put forward though, the most worthy has to be RJ Mitchel whose offices and design centre was in Hazel road, as anyone who went to the tech college there should know. For those that don't know who he is, he designed the Spitfire, a plane that was sufficiently ahead of the German Luftwaffe fighters to make a difference. The area surrounding Hazel road (Woolston) came under heavy German bombing in world war two but they never put it out of action. He even had a film made of his efforts and I can't think of two many others who can claim that. Another one not mentioned is Willy Russell, the famous director. But please lets not turn this into a joke. Have some pride.
mickey01
says...
7:06pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Sovietobserver wrote:its got to be benny hill , my dad used to work at dibbens in shirley and he often tells the story of benny sitting on a bench opposite the post office and having a chat as if he was you or i . i bet the p c brigade would put a stop to a real talent like benny being chosen
bazzeroz wrote:Benny Hill's address was 22, Westrow Gardens in Banister's Park .
ToastyTea wrote:Wasn't Benny born in Southampton? and worked in Eastleigh as a milkman? His mother and father lived in the Shirley area, something Gardens, the name escapes me now. I worked for a tv rental company in the 70's and when their tv needed a repair Benny would ring up and put on all daft voices, lol. No doubt someone will correct me but I'm sure I'm right.
Re Benny Hill there is a statue in Eastleigh isn't there ? not sure Eastleigh Council would be too happy us trying to claim him as ours.
To my knowledge it has never been blue plaqued.
chris packham (who) ?
G-man1
says...
9:47pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Has Howard Jones been mentioned?
gristle
says...
10:12pm Thu 1 Nov 12
stay local
says...
1:08am Fri 2 Nov 12
So I feel that for Benny to be sat on alone of a section of river is not good enough. I love the idea of a massive Fred Scuttle weaving to the boats as they leave. I also feel we should honour RJ Mitchell, but on the site of the spitfire works or the Itchen bridge could be renamed?
So back to the question of who should be sat alone by the river. Only one choice SOUTHY. It could be titled Southy addresses the hordes, or Southy solve the imponderable etc. or question perhaps the only seat Southy was chosen to sit in!!!!
Northamboy
says...
6:22am Fri 2 Nov 12
Why is Benny Hill not on the list?
aldermoorboy
says...
7:11am Fri 2 Nov 12
Storm Shadow
says...
10:31am Fri 2 Nov 12
The lack of a decent education in some posters in unbelieveable.
A national hero and a Southampton hero
Chris storey
says...
11:05am Fri 2 Nov 12
He obviously deserves a statue in his birthplace but in won't be in Soton will it.
Jane Austen lived there for 2 years but Basingstoke is closer to her birthplace so maybe that town should claim her for their own.
The rest of them are nobodies and you are clutching straws if you think they are worthy of a statue in their name, it shows that there is nobody of any real merit from "Soton"
megacycle
says...
12:35pm Fri 2 Nov 12
stay local wrote:I agree. On my travels in Eastern Europe(in Budapest as I write) I have met many people to whom Benny is a comic legend.
Thinking about this more a statue of Benny Hill on an isolated location makes no sense, he is still an icon in the states (some recent visitors her rated the trip to see Benny grave as the highlight of their trip, and yes they did video a chase scene around the grave yard) other members of the group then had to make a similar pilgrimage.
So I feel that for Benny to be sat on alone of a section of river is not good enough. I love the idea of a massive Fred Scuttle weaving to the boats as they leave. I also feel we should honour RJ Mitchell, but on the site of the spitfire works or the Itchen bridge could be renamed?
So back to the question of who should be sat alone by the river. Only one choice SOUTHY. It could be titled Southy addresses the hordes, or Southy solve the imponderable etc. or question perhaps the only seat Southy was chosen to sit in!!!!
But he's not on the shortlist, which looks like it was compiled from a brief google search.
And those of you intent on criticising Southampton's musical "heritage", don't forget Matt Hales from Aqualung.
bloe04
says...
8:22pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Doctor Watson
says...
1:32pm Sat 3 Nov 12
As with a few others - I must go for RJ Mitchell. But for him, the footballing contingent on here, could be watching Borussia Southampton-Gladbach
, week in and out, whilst munching on bratwurst and NOT pies.
Schmeggles
says...
7:41pm Sat 3 Nov 12
boobooj wrote:Yessss!
SO50 Saint wrote:THIS
If it's Craig David can they at least do the Bo Selecta version with kez sat on his arm
jen1
says...
8:46am Sun 4 Nov 12
TwiggyBloke
says...
12:23pm Sun 4 Nov 12
SaintsBTGOG
says...
8:02pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Chris storey
says...
9:01pm Sun 4 Nov 12
SaintsBTGOG wrote:RJ Mitchell is a northerner too but you seem quite happy to claim his fame for yourselves,, is this because you have no one of any worth to call your own.
Obviously this poll is now pointless as pompey fans have been on their forum voting for northerner Waterfield. Laughable hes actually on the list in the first place !
I quite liked Benny Hill though, his birds and bees sketch was one of the funniest ever on TV.
roxylife
says...
4:50pm Mon 5 Nov 12
SaintsBTGOG wrote:pete is no northener, if u want to have a comment at least get your facts right,
Obviously this poll is now pointless as pompey fans have been on their forum voting for northerner Waterfield. Laughable hes actually on the list in the first place !
weall8leedscum
says...
2:56pm Fri 9 Nov 12
Inform Al wrote:Idiot.
Currently a footballer from a third rate team seems to be top of the list, ahead of the man who did the most not just for Southampton but for the World. R.J.Mitchel. Seems that all the bigots, cretins etc in Southampton post on this site.
ShakeyWiffles
says...
4:14pm Fri 9 Nov 12
Chris storey wrote:Jealous are we?
SaintsBTGOG wrote:RJ Mitchell is a northerner too but you seem quite happy to claim his fame for yourselves,, is this because you have no one of any worth to call your own.
Obviously this poll is now pointless as pompey fans have been on their forum voting for northerner Waterfield. Laughable hes actually on the list in the first place !
I quite liked Benny Hill though, his birds and bees sketch was one of the funniest ever on TV.
Ragtacker Reader
says...
7:30pm Fri 9 Nov 12
Hardly a week goes by where he's not in the public eye, promoting charities, good causes and now Matt Le Tissier's own Academy for our young talented footballers. Non profit making I might add! Vote Matt.
Dan Soton
says...
5:11am Mon 12 Nov 12
-
Benny Hill's statue should be in Southampton.
10:00am Friday 5th October 2007
There is no doubt that the statue should be erected in Southampton because Benny Hill was a city man through and through.
He was often seen shopping in the Co-op at Bedford Place carrying his carrier bag and walking on Southampton Common in the steps of his mother when he was a child.
http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/yoursay/lette
rs/1736312.Benny_Hil
l_s_statue_should_be
_in_Southampton/
Sotonians_lets_pull_together
says...
4:31pm Tue 13 Nov 12
This just shows what a mistake it is to put up statues of living people, as there is still so much time left for the laurel leaves to slip.
ToastyTea says...
9:43am Thu 1 Nov 12
Why the hell is Charlie Dimmock in there, she was on a gardening programme about 15yrs ago, wow.