Fans given first look at statue to immortalise city singing star

Sculptor Graham Ibbeson, who is best known for his sculpture of Eric Morecambe, has spent the past eight years working with fans of Fifties singing star David Whitfield to achieve their dream of a city centre statue of the star.

Yesterday the singer's widow Sheila and son Lance along with members of the David Whitfield International Appreciation Society, saw the 6ft clay model for the first time, which will be used to cast the bronze statue, earmarked for a site at Hull's New Theatre.

The city council's planning committee meets on February 2 to decide whether to grant it planning permission.

The singer who was born in Hull in 1926 became a household name as one of the top artists of the 1950s and he is still one of only six artists to have spent 10 or more consecutive weeks at the top of the UK singles chart.

His widow Sheila said: "I think it's fantastic – he's done a marvellous job.

"I am so happy we're going to have a statue in Hull, especially if it can be at the New Theatre. He was a Hull boy. He never moved although they wanted him to move to London."

Barnsley-based Mr Ibbeson – who has also created statues of comedy duo Laurel and Hardy and actor Cary Grant – has depicted Whitfield performing in front of an audience.

He said: "I have done him singing but also smiling. He's got a 50s microphone in his hand and he's leaning towards the crowd.

"If it does go in front of the New Theatre, which I hope it does, the sculpture will be viewed from the same gardens.

"The sculpture will be viewed from the bottom of the steps of that garden so it will look like he's on stage – hopefully it will have the same effect as the statue of Eric Morecambe."

The sculptor, who is 60 this year, said he could just remember Whitfield appearing in panto with Freddie Frinton in Leeds. "He was a heartthrob, but probably to my mother's generation, not to my generation.

"It doesn't lessen his achievements – all the fantastic records he did and the amount of times he went across the Atlantic to go on an Ed Sullivan show which I think has only been equalled by the Beatles."

One thing that made David's likeness difficult to craft was the fact he had such regular features. He said: "David Whitfield was a good-looking guy – unlike Eric Morecambe, Laurel and Hardy and Benny Hill."

Fundraising is continuing for the statue, but Mr Ibbeson is confident the statue will be in place by the late summer.

Tickets are now on sale for a show at the New Theatre on February 26 which will help raise the rest of the money, with the bill topped by fellow city crooner Joe Longthorne.

There has been just one objection to the siting of the statue which will be in the pedestrian entrance to the Kingston Square Gardens.

The objector claims it will be an obstruction, and would be better off where it was originally intended in the memorial garden off Freetown Way. However planners are recommending approval, saying it would be a "focal point of interest."

It says the statue "would enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area and would be appropriate to and would enhance the setting of the listed buildings."

Bill Wilkins, from the David Whitfield International Appreciation Society, said: "I think it is fantastic I really do. When you look at the face that's him. "

Whitfield, who had worldwide success with songs such as Cara Mia and Answer Me, was the first British artist to sell over a million copies of a song in America. Born on February 2, 1926, in Hull, his singing career began with the local St Peter's Church choir. He died at the end of a tour in Australia aged 52.