Statue, plinth; plinth, statue
Tommy Cooper tribute unveiled
A statue of Tommy Cooper has been unveiled in his home town of Caerphilly.Sir Anthony Hopkins, who is patron of the Tommy Cooper Society, took the wraps off the 9ft bronze overlooking the town’s 13th Century castle, at lunchtime.
He said: ‘I am delighted to be unveiling a statue which will commemorate not just one of my heroes, but one of the greatest comics of all time.
'He was the comedian's comedian because he was such a self mockery artist.'
At the ceremony, he gave an impression of Cooper, saying: 'Before I start I just want to say this; this. Or that. Or this is as funny as that.'
Fans have raised the £45,000 cost of the project over the past five years.
Tudor Jones, secretary of the Tommy Cooper Society, said: ‘Tommy was always larger than life so it is fitting that his statue will stand proud in the centre of the town where he was born. This will be a long awaited tribute to Tommy from his home town of Caerphilly.’
Cooper was born in 1921 in Llwyn Onn Street, Caerphilly, but was raised in Exeter. He died of a heart attack during a live TV show from Her Majesty's Theatre, London,in 1984.
Sculptor James Done said Cooper would have been ‘the highest paid jester in any kingdom’.
Published: 23 Feb 2008
