South Wales Echo (27/Sep/2008) - City to have its statue of 'genius' Novello at last
(c) South Wales Echo (27/Sep/2008)
City to have its statue of 'genius' Novello at last
A statue of Cardiff-born film matinee idol, singer and composer Ivor Novello will soon be unveiled in the city.
The tribute to one of the city's most famous sons has been a long time coming.
But now the Ivor Novello Statue Fund has announced that the memorial to the man who "gave his people dreams and songs to sing" will stand outside the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.
The pounds 75,000 statue of the man often described as the "last great Romantic" and the "New Valentino" is due to be unveiled within a few months.
Novello, who starred in many silent films, including The Call of the Blood in 1919, and The Lodger, directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1927, was a homosexual who for 35 years was the lover of the British actor Bobbie Andrews.
The go-ahead has been given to the final process in the production of the statue, its casting in bronze at a specialist foundry. The seven-foot-tall figure depicts Novello at work, seated.
The main inscription on the front panel of the granite, marble-faced plinth will proclaim: Ivor Novello (David Ivor Davies) composer, playwright, actor 1893-1951. The back panel will repeat the inscription on the memorial plaque attached to Novello's former home in Cowbridge Road: "In this city was born a king who gave his people dreams and songs to sing."
Novello's historic wartime song, Keep the Home Fires Burning, is the theme of an inscription in Welsh, a couplet specially written by Grahame Davies, of Cardiff.
Side panels will list Novello's most famous musical plays and popular songs.
The statue is the work of Gower-based sculptor Peter Nicholas.
Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards, president of the Fund, said: "We are thrilled by the response to our campaign to ensure that Ivor Novello has the recognition in Wales that he deserves, and grateful to everyone who has contributed to the appeal.
"Many organisations, including Cardiff council and hundreds of individuals have been generous in their support, and we are still receiving donations.
"We know that everyone will be proud that Wales at last has a fitting memorial to the musical genius who created such a wonderful world of music and happiness.
"Now we can all look forward to the day his statue will grace his home city."
