“Bring me sunshine in your smile. Bring me laughter all the while”
The words penned by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee that filled our living rooms on a Saturday evening sung by 2 of the funniest men the world of comedy has ever produced.
It was 75 years ago when Eric and Ernie first trod the boards as a comedy duo. A partnership that would see then become firm favourites in the nations’ hearts. From TV specials to summer seasons, they would have a career that entertained millions.
A large part of Morecambe and Wise’s performance history was spent on the Fylde Coast, considered by many to be their spiritual home. With over 1000 performances here, making hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents laugh and smile, it seems fitting that the first ever statue of the double act should be homed in Blackpool.
This Friday, under the great dome of the Church Street entrance to the Winter Gardens, Eric’s widow Joan, alongside his eldest son Gary, daughter Gail and representatives from Ernie’s family, will unveil Graham Ibberson’s 8ft tall bronze tribute.
Graham created the wonderful and poignant statue of Eric that smiles across Morecambe Bay, holding the pose of his signature exit dance. Beautifully detailed, it was obviously made with a great love for the subject.
The unveiling is a public event, so everyone is invited down to the Winter Gardens at 11am on Friday to watch the curtain rise once again and share in this permanent reminder of 2 greats of British comedy.
“Bring me fun, Bring me Sunshine, Bring me Love.”
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