Today, a gigantic monument representing the entertainer at his 40th birthday that weighs over 600 kg (1322 lbs) was unveiled near Lytham’s beachfront.
At the emotional event, celebrities Tommy Canon and Lee Mack, who appeared with Bobby in the successful series “Not Going Out,” also spoke.
Alfie Boe, an English tenor and resident of Blackpool, also sang during the opening with an NHS choir, and Bobby’s widow afterwards made heartfelt dedications.
The iconic comedian, who was one-half of the comedic team Cannon and Ball, unfortunately passed away in October 2020 at the age of 76 after testing positive for Covid.
At today’s unveiling of the Bobby Ball monument at Lowther Gardens in Lytham, Tommy Cannon and Lee Mac are seen standing.
Yvonne, Bobby’s wife of 46 years, welcomes visitors before today’s monument presentation.
After testing positive for Covid in November of last year, the iconic comedian, who was one half of the comedic team Cannon and Ball, unfortunately passed away at the age of 76.
At the beachfront of Lytham, where Bobby was raised, a monument honoring his memory currently occupies a prominent position.
Ben Twiston-Davies, who designed the Agatha Christie monument in London, was selected to make his stunning bronze figure in response to the terrible news.
Bobby’s wife of 46 years, Yvonne, claimed the artist had “nailed” his image after “studying everything” about the adored musician. Yvonne saw a preview of the sculpture.
And she said that the monument honoring Bobby, which was unveiled in his hometown’s Lowther Gardens at 1 pm today, would have “overwhelmed” him.
To use his own words, she continued, he would be “piggin’ chuffed.”
“Bob cherished his time in Lytham. It was our home, thus it is very significant that he is commemorated with a monument in the Lowther Pavilion grounds.
He lived in the seaside resort from the middle of the 1990s until his passing in October at the age of 76, two miles from the center of amusement in Blackpool.
The head of Fylde Council, Cllr. Karen Buckley, said: “Bobby was a really special, extraordinarily gifted, and singular person who was genuinely adopted by the residents of Lytham St Annes.
At today’s presentation, Lee Mack, who co-starred with Ball in the comedy film Not Going Out, gave a message in remembrance of the late comedian.
In the film Not Going Out, Ball portrayed Lee’s father Frank (played by Lee Mack)
In June 1984, Ball appeared on The Cannon & Ball Show on ITV. It aired from 1979 until 1988.
Numerous supporters who came to observe the statue’s unveiling event are greeted by Tommy Cannon.
“His enduring legacy of friendliness and joy means he will be greatly missed, and this monument will guarantee he can keep spreading that pleasure to tourists and inhabitants of the region long after Bobby took his last bow and left the stage,” the statement reads.
According to Bobby’s relatives, he often played at Lowther Pavilion, where he also staged the first play he ever written, “Rock Off Tommy.”
Bobby, whose actual name was Robert Harper, was buried in the community on November 17 of last year and made one last trip to the Blackpool Tower, where he often performed.
More than 60 of his infamous braces-wearing supporters flooded the streets for an emotional event.
Yvonne, his wife of 46 years, previously said that Bobby often made light of his desire to be remembered, joking, “I want a monument in Lytham.”
Friend comic Les Dawson, who also made the place his adoptive home, is commemorated by a monument on the town’s seashore.
He used to ask everybody, “Where’s my statue, where’s my monument?” recalled Yvonne. Bob, you’re not dead yet, I used to respond.
‘A stroll and sit in Lowther Gardens was a favourite activity but usually took longer than planned and would develop into a ‘promote Lytham’ exercise, while Bobby enthusiastically spoke and let others know how fortunate he felt to be living here.’
In May 2001, Tommy Cannon (left) and Bobby Ball (right) posed for an ITV promotional image.
Today in Lytham, Ball’s wife Yvonne and comedy partner Tommy Cannon are shown with his monument.
In the 1980s, Cannon and Ball progressed from performing in working-clubs men’s to having their own Saturday-night ITV program.
The Cannon and Ball Show, a Saturday night primetime television series starring the pair, was well-liked by viewers and often attracted large audiences.
Together, they also featured in the 1982 comedy The Boys in Blue, and in the 1988 slapstick comedy Mr. H. Is Late with Eric Sykes.
Ball regained prominence after fading from view in the 1990s by playing the father of Lee Mack’s character in the BBC comedy Not Going Out.
Alongside Sally Lindsay, he also appeared in the comedy Mount Pleasant on Sky TV.
Fylde Council gave the monument the go-ahead last year, and a crowdfunding campaign to gather $100,000 to pay for the statue was started.