The Statue!

The Latest News (from the Write Charlie, December 2008, Issue 58, Written by Wilfred Fitton

Yes. I know what you are thinking.
We’ve been here before!

In 1994, soon after the Society was formed, there was a great blaze of publicity in the media, which included contributions from TV, the Gazette and others.

“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to remember Charlie with a life-size statue of him somewhere in the town”

(After all, this great clown had entertained Blackpool holidaymakers at the Tower Circus for 39 seasons).

The Town Council were approached and were favourably impressed with the idea. They even suggested that Charlie’s ‘pose’ should not have any protruding arms, legs or props in case any of our Blackpool visitors should harm themselves!

Various sites were suggested.

These included the entrance hall at the Town Hall and the Tower Front Foyer. Eventually a decision was made and a suitable plinth was built on the newly paved part of Church Street between the Tower and Woolworths. All seemed to be going well.

However, funding for the actual bronze casting of the statue (£16,000) was not forthcoming. Approaches were made to the National Lottery, the Tower, the Town Council — All were turned down.

Meanwhile, a fibreglass ‘head and shoulders’ maquette of Charlie had been sculpted by Brian Nicholson, one of our members, and this was on display at the Cairoli Bar — then at the De Vere Hotel. Many favourable comments were received.

When the De Vere ‘Charlie’ themed bar closed, this maquette was then featured in the Tower Circus Water Finale. Tributes were paid to Charlie, as the maquette, with a blue/turquoise painted jacket, rose from a central podium. Fountains played while the artistes waved goodbye to the audience. Everyone wore bowler hats and Charlie noses.

Then came Lytham!

Lytham Heritage Centre contacted the Society towards the end of 1999. They wanted to mount a Charlie Cairoli Exhibition at their Centre. A display of costumes, posters, photographs, props, etc., was prepared and this was opened for a few weeks in December 1999. A smaller ‘stone’ bust of Charlie, again by Brian, was a feature. Mrs Cairoli described it as a true likeness of her husband.

Much interest was shown and again the full size statue idea was suggested. After all Morecambe had their own star attraction — a statue of Eric Morecambe.

Then came the Tower!

Representatives of the Tower management were most impressed by the Lytham display and asked if they could have an enlarged version of our exhibition to be shown in the Tower for the 2000 season. This duly opened at Easter, after much extra material had been prepared. This exhibition is still on show at the Tower. Many, many thousands of holidaymakers must have visited and seen this in the eight years it has been open. The maquette, still with blue/turquoise jacket, and the ‘stone’ bust are on display in this exhibition. There is also a small bust in black resin in one of the glass cases — this is again Brian’s work.

Undeterred

As time passed, and nothing seemed to be happening on the Charlie statue idea, Brian turned his attention to other projects in the Tower. There was a bit of restoration work to some fancy plasterwork in the roof of the Tower ballroom. This was where the rain had leaked in. In the circus, two full sized ‘nymphs’ were made, to grace the box over the ring entrance — opposite the bandstand. Various props were made for the water finales — gargoyle faces which spouted water from the ring fence, etc.

Brian’s work can also be found in other parts of the Tower, especially in the aquarium. Have a look in and around the largest fish tank — the one which used to house the giant turtles.

Very confident

Meanwhile, still very enthusiastic, Brian decided to model a life size maquette of Charlie with a view to one day seeing it as the finished statue installed somewhere in Blackpool.

“I feel in my water, that at the eleventh hour, we just might get the statue project off the ground. I’m keeping everything crossed. I’d love to see him in place before I move on to that big studio in the sky”.

The Gazette — July 2008

The Doomed Sculpture

By Steve Dunthorn

BLACKPOOL council is looking at a funny way to replace the scrapped centrepiece of the new £3.5m development.

As The Gazette revealed yesterday, a dramatic metal sculpture lined up for the heart of the St John’s Plaza development, outside the Winter Gardens in Church Street, has been abandoned due to rising cost of metal. But a tribute to a famous clown who helped put the resort on the map could be substituted for the spectacular steel sphere.

Councillor Tony Williams, Blackpool’s cabinet member for culture and communities at Blackpool Council is now urging his fellow councillors and members of the public to get behind a statue of the legendary clown Charlie Cairoli at the site.

He believes it could have the same effect as the popular Eric Morecambe statue in Morecambe.

“I have always wanted a statue of Charlie Cairoli in the town, after all he was the most famous clown in the world and brought more visitors to the town than any other single entertainer,” said Councillor Williams.

“I think this would be an ideal location to commission and erect a statue in the same quality of the Eric Morecambe tribute. Charlie has never been truly recognised for his massive contribution to Blackpool and we should honour our local heroes.”

Elaine Smith, from Blackpool Civic Trust, said; “I must admit I am very disappointed that the statue will not be going ahead. We spent hours and hours deciding what should go there and I think it would have been great for attracting people on to Abingdon Street and that area of the town. I am all for the idea of a statue of Charlie Cairoli, I think there should be one of him and the famous Tower organist Reginald Dixon, but ideally I think these should be located either in the space near Woolworths or on the new headlands.”



The Saga Continues………..

The Charlie Cairoli Statue: From Dream to Legacy

The story of the Charlie Cairoli statue is one of vision, craftsmanship, and enduring admiration. It begins not with stone or bronze, but with a dream — imagined and sketched by Brian, whose early designs laid the foundation for one of Blackpool’s most heartfelt tributes to its greatest clown.

Brian’s Original Vision

Long before plans became reality, Brian created a series of sketches that captured the spirit of Charlie Cairoli with remarkable sensitivity. These drawings became the blueprint for a tribute he hoped would one day stand proudly in Blackpool.

His original dream placed the statue at the junction of Victoria Street and Bank Street, facing the Blackpool Tower — the very stage where Charlie performed for 39 unforgettable years. From this vantage point, the statue would have looked directly toward the heart of Cairoli’s world, welcoming visitors just as Charlie had done for generations.

Though the location would later change, Brian’s designs remain the emotional starting point for the entire project.

From Sketch to Sculpture

Photographs documenting the sculpting process reveal the incredible detail and care poured into bringing Charlie to life. Every curve, expression, and gesture was shaped with deep respect for his legacy. These images show the transformation from Brian’s initial sketches to the three-dimensional figures that would eventually become celebrated works of art.

The statues created from these designs are not mere representations — they embody the warmth, humour, and humanity that made Charlie Cairoli so beloved.

A Call to Honour a Legend

In July 2008, the project gained renewed momentum when Tony Williams, serving on the Blackpool Council Cabinet, proposed a permanent statue to honour Charlie Cairoli’s extraordinary contribution to the resort.

Recognised worldwide as one of the greatest clowns of all time, Cairoli helped build Blackpool’s reputation as a centre of entertainment. The idea of formally celebrating him resonated deeply with residents, many of whom had grown up attending the Tower Circus and cherished the memories he helped create.

Crafting the Stone Plinth at Stanley Park

The initial location for the statue was Blackpool’s Stanley Park, an important and much-loved landmark. Here, work began on the stone plinth that would support the sculpture — a task undertaken with tremendous care and craftsmanship.

Local artisans shaped, profiled, and engraved three different stone types by hand, creating a base that would honour Charlie’s legacy with the dignity it deserved. Every chisel strike carried a sense of pride: this was not just stonework, but an expression of love for one of the town’s most iconic figures.

The project connected Blackpool’s heritage of skilled stonework with the joyful legacy of Cairoli himself. It became a privilege for all involved, uniting craftsmanship with community admiration.

A Final Home at the Blackpool Tower

Although the project began with Stanley Park as its intended site, the completed statue ultimately found its rightful place at Blackpool Tower, the landmark most closely tied to Charlie’s life and career.

Standing there today, the statue serves as a lasting reminder of the laughter Cairoli brought to millions and the indelible mark he left on Blackpool’s cultural history. It celebrates not only the man but the generations of joy he inspired.

A Legacy Preserved

From Brian’s original sketches to the artisans’ hand-carved stonework, and from community support to the statue’s final placement at the Tower, the Charlie Cairoli statue represents far more than a commemorative artwork.

It is a tribute built from passion, nostalgia, and respect — a testament to a town’s enduring affection for a man who shaped its identity through humour, heart, and artistry.



Charlie Cairoli lives on in the memories of all who saw him perform, and now, through this remarkable statue, he continues to smile upon Blackpool for generations to come.