26 Nov 2024
An iconic Blue Plaque which once held pride of place at BBC TV Centre has been unveiled at Harpenden’s Eric Morecambe Centre by the eponymous funnyman’s daughter.
The plaque was one of a limited collection of 24 which could be seen at the Wood Lane building before it closed in 2012.
Reading ‘Eric Morecambe 1926-1984’, it was orginally installed by the Heritage Foundation with the cooperation of the BBC, with others remembering the likes of Doctor Whos William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee, singer Marti Caine, presenter Roy Castle, Eric’s partner Ernie Wise and other comedians including Arthur Lowe, Harry H Corbett and Michael Bentine.
This particular plaque was donated to the Eric Morecambe Centre by Harpenden resident Carol Berks and is in pride of place in the theatre foyer alongside portraits of Eric and his wife Joan, who made the town their home after moving there in 1967.
The plaque sits alongside pieces of a pipe used by Eric and a photo of him accepting his portrait from painter George Anthony Roe in October 1970.
The St Albans Times was invited along today for an intimate unveiling by Eric’s daughter Gail. who said: “I think you’ve set it out absolutely beautifully. Mum would be thrilled, which is good as you always want to please your mother! Dad would just be amazed, it’s fantastic! I’m delighted that it’s ended up here.”
