25 March 2009

Laurel and Hardy statue arrives in Ulverston

The bronze statue of Laurel and Hardy will be installed in Ulverston, Cumbria, on 1 April 2009.

The statue, created by artist Graham Ibbeson who made the famous Eric Morecambe statue in Morecambe, will arrive from the London foundry into Ulverston at midday.

The boys will be craned into a specially prepared box that will conceal the statue until the formal unveiling on Sunday 19th April by legendary comedian Ken Dodd.

It will be the centrepiece of the newly enhanced County Square scheme in the centre of Ulverston. The scheme cost £500,000 and the statue £60,000. The Sons of the Desert, the international appreciation society for Laurel and Hardy, funded the statue privately.

The County Square Enhancement Scheme was funded primarily by the NWDA through the Agency-funded Market Towns Initiative with other funding from South Lakeland District Council, Cumbria County Council and English Heritage.

The statue will be surrounded by some of the duo’s famous quotes, engraved into local slate. These include the often misquoted “Another nice mess you’ve got me into” and ‘My ear is full of milk”, together with some of their most famous films including The Sons of the Desert and Berth Marks. The pair will be sited outside the Coronation Hall, where they appeared on the balcony in 1947, when Stan brought Ollie to visit the town of his birth.

Artist Graham Ibbeson said:
“I sculpted Stan and Ollie over a winter period a few years ago, it was cold and miserable in the workshop, however, when I took the cover off the boys every morning it uplifted my soul. I set off the day with a smile. Stan and Ollie were looking down on me with grins on their faces, and I was looking back at the greatest clowns that have walked this Earth with affection and joyous memories.”
 
Mayor of Ulverston Cllr Janette Jenkinson said:
“It’s been fantastic watching the whole project come together.  It started with Ulverston and Low Furness Market Towns Initiative instigating an enhancement scheme around the area of the Coronation Hall in County Square, followed by the completion of the Laurel and Hardy Statue. I have to congratulate all those involved in the scheme from start to finish, particularly Eric Woods and the Sons of the Desert for their commissioning of the statue and fund raising, County Council Highways for managing the project and the contractors Hanson’s, who have both done a wonderful job in not only keeping the Town open for business, but informing members of the public on all aspects of the scheme.”

Harry Knowles, Chairman of the Ulverston and Low Furness Market Town Initiative, said:
“It’s highly appropriate that the pair arrive on April Fools day.  They continue to give a lot of laughter and fun to so many people of all ages. What better day for them to come home to Ulverston.”

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA, said:
“Ulverston and the Lake District have a unique selling point in being the birthplace of such a legendary star and I’m sure the statue will be a wonderful tribute.
“We are pleased to have supported it through the wider enhancements to County Square which will provide the perfect setting in the heart of the Conservation Area. The statue will be an important new tourist attraction and will inspire new visitors to experience Ulverston and the other outstanding attractions in the wider Lakes area.”

Notes for Editors

The statue will be concealed until it is unveiled by comedian Ken Dodd on Sunday, April 19th at 3pm

Members of The Sons of the Desert - the international appreciation group for Laurel and Hardy - will be attending the unveiling dressed up as their heroes

For interview requests or information on photographs please contact project manager Jayne Kendall on 01229 588499 or J.kendall@southlakeland.gov.uk

Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston, Cumbria on 16 June 1890

The statue will be sited in the newly re-furbished County Square, which is in the centre of Ulverston.
The County Square enhancement project is funded by the NWDA, English Heritage, South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council It is an Ulverston and Low Furness Market Town Initiative Project.
The objective of the NWDA’s Market Towns Initiative was to rejuvenate 17 market towns across the Northwest. The work has officially come to an end and final projects are being completed in market towns including Ulverston.

Following the initial £1.2million the NWDA gave Ulverston MTI, the Agency gave another £500,000 for a range of projects in March 2007 of which £295,000 was spent on the County Square project.

It is project managed on site by Cumbria County Highways and the main contractor is Hanson Ltd of Penrith.

Ulverston Town Council will own the statue.