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Saluting a comedy legend – but where will Benny Hill statue go?
9:16am Tuesday 18th November 2008
Comments (36)
THIS is the statue that fans of world famous comedian Benny Hill have been waiting years to see in Southampton.
Dressed as his popular character Fred Scuttle, giving his trademark salute, Benny is ready to be cast in bronze and placed where people can marvel at the tribute.
But despite the amazing attention to detail on the 6ft 6in figure and a campaign to raise funding for the bronzing process, a question mark still hangs over where to place the iconic statue.
Currently resting in sculptor Graham Ibbeson’s workshop, the fibreglass cast of the comedy legend, who is still entertaining television audiences across the US, Australia and Japan, is in need of a permanent home.
Vintage Benny Hill clip
“It would be great to see Benny Hill greet people off the cruise ships. Visitors from around the world would love it,” said Graham.
The 57-year-old sculptor recently won praise for bringing a statue of comedian Les Dawson to Lytham St Annes in Lancashire which has already become a successful tourist attraction.
He was also the man behind the statue of Eric Morecambe dancing on Morecambe seafront and is working on a Laurel and Hardy statue which is due to be unveiled in Stan Laurel’s birthplace, Ulverston in Cumbria, early next year.
Working with Cornerstone Marketing Ltd, Graham’s previous works have been paid for through public and corporate fundraising and the team say they could offer the statue to Southampton for free if they find a suitable place for it.
“It really seems a shame that we have got Eric dancing on Morecambe seafront and Les telling a gag 50 miles down the road but we don’t have Benny Hill saluting people in Southampton.”
“All the council needs to do is find a suitable location and adopt the statue so it is looked after.
“The casts have been made and whenever people see it they are amazed that it hasn’t been put up somewhere.”
Jim Cadnam of Cornerstone said he and Graham were determined to find a home for the statue but that Southampton City Council had so far shown no interest despite three other councils seeking to bring the Benny Hill tribute to their regions.
“Five million people watched the live unveiling of the Les Dawson statue on TV and people were queuing up to have their pictures taken next to it,” said Jim.
A spokesman for Southampton City Council said it was arranging a meeting with Cornerstone to discuss the statue.
Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage said: “There are currently no plans or funding for a statue of Benny Hill in Southampton. However we would be happy to work with any person or group to help them find suitable sites and funding in the city.”
Your Say YourDaily Echo
Rudd Gillett, Saffhampton says...
9:24am Tue 18 Nov 08
thesaint, southampton says...
9:51am Tue 18 Nov 08
Lone Ranger, Southampton says...
10:01am Tue 18 Nov 08
birdman, eastleigh says...
10:11am Tue 18 Nov 08
then bring it on over to Eastleigh
we would be proud to have such an icon in the towns Leigh Rd Park
obelisker, Southampton says...
10:12am Tue 18 Nov 08
goard, Southampton says...
10:29am Tue 18 Nov 08
goard
TestTickle, says...
10:35am Tue 18 Nov 08
southy, redbridge says...
10:41am Tue 18 Nov 08
Number6, Southampton says...
10:43am Tue 18 Nov 08
Andy Locks Heath, says...
10:50am Tue 18 Nov 08
Boris Remmington, Wellow says...
11:31am Tue 18 Nov 08
emdee, city of southampton says...
11:36am Tue 18 Nov 08
fuzabuznuz wrote:Good answer, I reckon this would work. any one at the council listening???
Put it on Hill Lane, and rename is Benny Hill Lane. Solved.
just going off for some M & Z (benny at his best)now? might have chips with it? think about it?
Mad Max, The Prairies says...
12:13pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Number6 wrote:Old Weido?? chasing girls in underwear?? old perv?? maybe it should go in Parliament Square in London, he can show the politicians what to aspire to....
Let Eastleigh have it somewhere,I could really care less. Who wants to celebrate an old wierdo who wasn't actually funny.Slap a short bald man on the head,chase some girls in underwear and act like an old perv - hilarious.
Beer Monster, Hythe says...
12:16pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Quite Frankly, Southampton says...
12:23pm Tue 18 Nov 08
southy, redbridge says...
12:49pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Beer Monster wrote:he lived in hill lane southampton and work in eastleigh
If I was going to have a statue, I'd have it placed on the Hythe Pier - so for Benny's tribute it's got to be where he lived, in Eastleigh.
UTS, says...
12:52pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Sly Stallone, New York says...
12:53pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Denzil, Chilworth says...
12:53pm Tue 18 Nov 08
ydkjs2, Cherry Valley says...
1:08pm Tue 18 Nov 08
andypr, southampton says...
1:11pm Tue 18 Nov 08
mr.southampton, Southampton says...
1:38pm Tue 18 Nov 08
On the subject of the subject of the statue Benny Hill, why not create a collection of statues of 'comedians' like Jim Davidson, Freddie Starr and Bernard Manning then dump them out at sea.
ydkjs2, Cherry Valley says...
2:08pm Tue 18 Nov 08
mr.southampton wrote:Well, and aren't we just a little ray of sunshine?
Call me cynical but it looks to me as if Cornerstone Marketing Ltd are in the business of trying to hawk statues of local celebrities. Seems that there busines plan is to get a sculptor to draw up a rough design, then contact whichever local rag to try and drum up intererst in creating a local campaign to commision their statue. Isn't this the way things like vacuum cleaners are sold by door-to-door salesmen??? On the subject of the subject of the statue Benny Hill, why not create a collection of statues of 'comedians' like Jim Davidson, Freddie Starr and Bernard Manning then dump them out at sea.
Adrian Smith, Planet Earth says...
2:12pm Tue 18 Nov 08
southy wrote:He lived in Westrow Gardens. I do like the idea of renaming Hill Lane though.
Beer Monster wrote: If I was going to have a statue, I'd have it placed on the Hythe Pier - so for Benny's tribute it's got to be where he lived, in Eastleigh.he lived in hill lane southampton and work in eastleigh
beaudog, portswood says...
2:59pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Lone Ranger, Southampton says...
3:06pm Tue 18 Nov 08
beaudog wrote:Yes......he once walked up the high street, past Waitrose and Iceland and into Woolies........or was that Elvis
Did Benny have any connection with Portswood at all? Personal interest....
southy, redbridge says...
3:17pm Tue 18 Nov 08
another great comedian from the uk was bob hope add he to your collection mr.southampton
chipsceola, Millbrook says...
6:10pm Tue 18 Nov 08
housewife, says...
9:58pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Corner of Bedford Place and Wilton Avenue.
Right by the Catholic Girls' school.
Perfect location for him.
King Mush, Woolston says...
10:54pm Tue 18 Nov 08
Number6 wrote:I think you'll find that Benny Hill's memory will last much longer than most of your post-modern 'comedians' who claim to offer 'alternative' and/or surreal irony or whatever pseudo-description you choose.
Let Eastleigh have it somewhere,I could really care less. Who wants to celebrate an old wierdo who wasn't actually funny.Slap a short bald man on the head,chase some girls in underwear and act like an old perv - hilarious.
Most of the current bunch emanate from the unis via Edinburgh Fringe then straight into TV which is run by their peer group.
'Slapping the baldy man'? Pure slapstick and quite harmless.
'Chase girls'? If you and others care to unblinker your prejudiced eyes you might realise that every chase ended up with the GIRLS chasing our Ben!
Act like an old perv? Guess you endorse Russell (yawn) Brand and Jonathon Woss's kind of 'humour' then?
Or Ricky Gervais? Funny? yeah right
Vonnie, Southampton says...
3:11am Wed 19 Nov 08
Instead of lining the pockets of Cornerstone, surely the question should be "What did Benny Hill do for Southampton?" Answer, not a lot.
If there is money to spend on such things, which I doubt, then I would prefer that people who contributed something to the city were honoured in this way.
People like Robert Chipperfield and Frederick William Smith, without whose bequests there would be no Art Gallery, no Chipperfield or Smith Trust money to buy Art, and the Art School would never have been founded.
I can think of several other people but these two come immediately to mind.
Big Boy, Hythe says...
6:57am Wed 19 Nov 08
obelisker, Southampton says...
7:07am Wed 19 Nov 08
Big Boy wrote:The Royal Thai Pier if you don't mind!!!! Fair play to him (Kuti) for doing it up but come on it's Southampton not Bangkok.
Isn't there something about him on a plaque opposite the Royal Pier?
southy, redbridge says...
12:00pm Wed 19 Nov 08
Big Boy wrote:there just might be,because he did play there once or twice.in his very early days.
Isn't there something about him on a plaque opposite the Royal Pier?
King Mush, Woolston says...
2:45pm Wed 19 Nov 08
Just look at the Beatles, Cilla, Tarbuck and co who soon escaped Liverpool asap! Cant blame them
Benny was an oddball though but deserving of a comedy legend. He was ripped off during his working career as he had no real interest in money and didnt splash out on luxuries. He often had uncashed cheques lying around his shabby homes and quite considerable sums.
His millions disappeared over a lifetime and his estate was divided up between a rather obtuse bunch of family who he never got on with.
What about Craig David? Havent seen him around Holy Rood lately..
The Benny Hill Statue
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fuzabuznuz, Southampton says...
9:21am Tue 18 Nov 08