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Remembering when the Queen unveiled the Eric Morecambe Statue

The Queen unveils the Eric Morecambe Statue in 1999

The Queen last visited Morecambe in 1999 when she unveiled the statue of the town's favourite son.

Her Majesty officially unveiled the sculpture of the comedian Eric Morecambe on the Promenade on July 23 1999.

Buckingham Palace said that the Queen accepted the invitation to visit Morecambe because she and the Duke of Edinburgh were due to visit Lancaster, to mark the 600th anniversary of the association between the Crown and the Duchy of Lancaster.

But the royal couple were also known to have been great fans of Morecambe and Wise and it is understood she personally asked to unveil the statue.

The bronze statue was sculpted by Yorkshire-based artist, Graham Ibbeson. 

Also in attendance on the day were the broadcaster Sir Robin Day and actor Frank Finlay, who both appeared on the Morecambe and Wise TV show, as well as Eric's widow Joan, and their children Gary, Gail and Stephen.

Eric Morecambe was born John Eric Bartholomew in Morecambe in 1926.

He formed a comedy partnership with Ernie Wise regarded as the best in the history of British comedy, and the Morecambe and Wise television shows remain a huge hit with TV viewers today.

Eric died in May 1984, aged 58.

The statue remains in the spot where the Queen unveiled it 23 years ago, and is a huge attraction for tourists in Morecambe, and source of pride for residents.

The Visitor newspaper started the appeal to raise funds for the statue, which was then taken on by Lancaster City Council with contributions from local businesses, residents and European funding.

Glen Cooper, editor of The Visitor at the time, was one of those to meet the Queen at the unveiling.

"She was very pleasant and really interested in the story of how the statue came about," he said.

"I remember them both (the Queen and Prince Philip) having a great sense of humour. You could tell from the Queen's face that she was absolutely delighted to be doing what she was doing. She was almost childlike in her enjoyment of unveiling the statue."

After the unveiling, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh then went to the mayoral parlour at Lancaster Town Hall for lunch.

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