Holmfirth Web and Summer Wine Online proudly supporting  Bill Owen Statue Memorial Trust  Donations should be made payable to “Bill Owen Statue Memorial Trust” and posted to The Secretary, Holme Valley Business Association, 2 Hey Top, Cote Lane, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD9 2RP or alternatively money can be paid into Bank Account No. 11225154 sort code 402424 -  “Bill Owen Statue Memorial Trust”.  Many thanks for your support.

Why a Statue of Compo? Click here for our Frequently Asked Questions, updated by Tom Owen

Compo Statue Set to Go Ahead in Holmfirth in 2005
Exclusive message from Tom Owen, pictured right.

Great news for the New Year! Tom Owen has exclusively revealed that work is due to start on Bill's statue in Holmfirth in 2005.

Even though the fund is still desperately short of cash, Tom feels the time is right to start work on the project to create a statue of his father, Bill Owen, in the centre of town. 

Full background details, as well as how you can donate to the fund, can be seen on this page.  The Holmfirth-based website has helped with the funding raising.  Last year, an American reader donated $2,000.  During the summer, the website along with fans from both sides of the Atlantic took part in fund raising in the centre of Holmfirth. 

Earlier this year, regular visitors to the website suggested that fans might care to donate money to the fund, rather than pay a subscription to the website.  Summer Wine Online agreed and were only too happy to support the special appeal. 

Tom - who is now taking part in a six-week Panto season in Bournemouth - told the website that a big relaunch was planned for  2005. 

"People will see that something is actually happening, also I think it is right that those who have given so generously will see their money at last put to good use," he explained.

"But I stress that we are still a long way off our target and desperately need those donations to continue rolling in." 

20-11- 2004 Copyright Summer-Wine.Com

Help Spread the Word - Display our Poster
Poster created free of charge by Area5 News and PR, the people behind the Summer Wine website, and currently displayed in Holmfirth. 

Download our Statue Fund poster - and display in your home/workplace. 
Wherever you live in the world, you too can now support the exciting appeal to create a Statue of Compo in the centre of Holmfirth.  For the best quality, click on the PDF link below, you will need the free Adobe Reader to view and print out.  Let us know the most unusual place you manage to display our poster, even better send a location photo to show on the website. 

Click to enlarge poster (right) or open Acrobat PDF version (983kb)

The first sketch of what our Compo statue could look like in Holmfirth  
Exclusive to the Summer Wine website

Click to enlarge
Many thanks to artist John Alder for providing a personal sketch of what the statue of Compo could look like.  The statue will include a dry stone wall - a feature of the local area - plus provision for visitors to make a donation. As well as a fitting tribute to Bill Owen, It is thought the statue could be a popular tourist attraction in Holmfirth, similar to comedian Eric Morecambe's famous bronze statue in the seaside resort of Morecambe. 


COPYRIGHT NOTICE July 2003:  The media as well as other Summer Wine fan-sites are welcome to copy the statue graphic from this page, providing a link is included in your caption/story to the Summer Wine website - www.summer-wine.com.

A COMPO STATUE - THAT’S OFFICIAL!!
Press Statement issued by Tom Owen

 
Official Planning Permission has been granted by Kirklees Council for a bronze life size statue of Compo played by Bill Owen for twenty seven years in the world’s longest running TV comedy series “Last of the Summer Wine”.

This statue will be sited in Kings Head Gardens in Holmfirth opposite “Wrinkled Stocking” Tea Room! See photo right of the Gardens.

Bill’s son Tom Owen who joined “Last of the Summer Wine” after his father’s death in 1999 playing Tom Simmonite, Compo’s long lost son says:

“I am absolutely delighted that we are able to proceed with a lasting memorial to my father.  I would personally like to thank the Holme Valley Business Association and in particular Royston Rogers for their unswerving support.  It has taken four years to get the project off the ground but we got there in the end.

We shall be setting up a charitable trust called ‘The Bill Owen Statue Memorial Trust’ and will be collecting monies from the private sector.  There are five Trustees Tom Owen, Royston Rogers, Andrew Bray, Bill Peabody and Margaret Holland.  The commission for the sculpture has been given to the well known sculptor John Alder who studied at the Royal College of Art and knew Bill reasonably well.  It is estimated that the statue will cost £34,000 and will be cast in bronze and coloured.  Bill will be seen leaning against a dry stone wall.  We shall also be re-launching the “Summer Wine Exhibition” so the series attractions will be spread over the town.

It has been said many times and it remains the case that Bill loved the valley and in particular the people and the little town of Holmfirth.  He would be thrilled to know that his work as Compo will be commemorated in this way in the place where it all began.

His grandchildren, James & William, his daughter-in-law Mary and the cast and crew of “Last of the Summer Wine” are thrilled about the statue.

It is early days and we have yet to decide upon our fundraising strategy but we shall be approaching local firms for sponsorship together with a national and international appeal.  Of course we will also accept personal donations

Thank you once again for your support.”

Any cheques to be made payable to “Bill Owen Statue Memorial Trust” can be sent to The Secretary, Holme Valley Business Association, 2 Hey Top, Cote Lane, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD9 2RP or alternatively money can be paid into Bank Account No. 11225154 sort code 402424 -  “Bill Owen Statue Memorial Trust”.