Chart-topping 1950s singing star could get statue tribute

Hull Council’s planning committee rejected the proposals last year, but the David Whitfield International Appreciation Society, which is trying to bring it about, said it had now been told the application would be considered again after an alternative site was rejected by Mr Whitfield’s widow Sheila.

Bill Wilkins, statue fund secretary of the David Whitfield International Appreciation Society, said: “They said we could put it in the memorial garden in Freetown Way but Sheila didn’t want it there, so they said put the application in again and we’ll see what we can do from there.

“They are going to bring it up at the next meeting.”

The Hull-born artist, who began his singing career as a choirboy at St Peter’s Church, notched up a string of hits in the 1950s and was the most successful British male singer in the US at the time.

He named his house in Anlaby “Cara Mia” after the song which gave him a gold disc and a second UK Number one.

Mr Wilkins added: “It’s for the pleasure he gave world-wide and he never left Hull. He had chance to live in America but he stayed here and lived here – he’s a true son of Hull.”