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Novello statue unveiled in Wales
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 30 June 2009
A statue of Ivor Novello has been unveiled in the composer and actor’s home city of Cardiff, at a ceremony at the Wales Millennium Centre.
The seven foot bronze sculpture was created after businessman Hilary David began fundraising for a memorial, leading to the setting up of a Statue Fund charity backed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and opera star Dennis O’Neill. Chairman of the fund Derek Grattidge said: “The response has been magnificent, raising £80,000. It reflects the pride not just of Cardiff but of Wales in the outstanding achievements of Ivor Novello”.
Novello, who of course gave his name to the Ivor Novello Awards for songwriters, was one of the biggest stars of the early twentieth century, and made his name with songs like ‘Keep The Home Fires Burning’, his stage musicals, and his cinema appearances, in the UK and the USA. Despite his large contribution to British culture, many people are unaware of the breadth of his work, or of his Welsh origins.
Norman Lloyd-Edwards, president of the Statue Fund said: “It has been far too long. At last Wales has a fitting memorial to a musical master who created a wonderful world of music and happiness that did his home city and country proud”.
