People share their long happy memories of Eric Morecambe
Many Sand Grown'Uns have a story to tell about Eric Morecambe. The nearest any of my family got to the great comedian was my great aunt, Ruth Preece, who, if family legend is to be believed, let the young Eric dance on the kitchen table of her home near Christie Park.
She was seamstress at the Winter Gardens and lived near the Bartholomews so I expect that's why she let him get away with it!
Next Thursday - May 28 - is the 25th anniversary of Eric's death and this year is the 10th anniversary of the Queen unveiling the Eric Morecambe statue. We asked Guardian readers for their memories of Morecambe's most famous son and here are just a few, writes Louise Bryning
Always a funny man
DURING his 35 years in hospital broadcasting both at local and national level, Peter Milward has interviewed many famous people.
However his most enjoyable memory was of being invited to interview Eric at his mother's bungalow in Torrisholme in January 1977.
Here are his memories:
"Along with Anne Clement (ex Lancaster Guardian) and a press photographer we approached the bungalow, Ann holding copious notes of questions she wanted to ask and myself clutching my recording equipment.
Standing in the kitchen of the bungalow, Eric soon put us at our ease before starting the interview which we had decided to pretend was taking place in the hospital radio studio in the RLI.
As we started recording Eric, with a big grin on his face, knocked Anne's notes out of her hand saying: "You won't need those Anne, lets ad-lib"
Anne, being a true professional, took this in her stride and did just that!
A couple of questions later Eric turned to me and said: "Peter do you ask all your guests to take their clothes off? It's a bit cold!"
This threw us both but we continued the interview until Eric suddenly stopped and asked: "It is really cold, do you think I could just put my vest on?"
So it continued in that vein with both Anne and myself in fits of laughter just about managing to continue the interview!
Later whilst having coffee with Eric and Joan, his wife, we were chatting and Eric left the room for a short while. Joan said Eric wasn't putting on an act for you then – he is always like that!"
Thank you Eric for this very happy memory and I'm sorry about the position Luton find themselves in!"
Jokes, sweets and sharing the tea
PERHAPS the most poignant memories of Eric are of those who met him at the opening of Wesley House in Lancaster – just a fortnight before his death in May, 1984.
Carol Davies attended the opening as her mum, Alice Cragg was one of the first tenants – and she remains there 25 years later, aged 93.
Carol said: "There was a service at the Cathedral before the opening and my son and I stood outside the Cathedral gate when Eric Morecambe was coming out.
His chauffeur was parked outside but I heard Eric say to his wife:'It's such a lovely day, we'll walk.'
My son and I walked in front of them.
My son remembered Eric had been on What's My Line the week before and had mentioned that his dog was ill so my son asked if it was alright now. Eric said it was fine and thanked by son for asking him.Later when we were at Wesley House, Eric spotted my son again and asked him if his dog was alright. It was all very jovial.
Eric passed around a bag of sweets and then did the trick with the empty bag. It was such a happy day."
Although Wesley House was officially opened by the Rev Amos Cresswell, president of the Methodist Conference, Eric Morecambe was a special guest as he was a patron of Methodist Homes for the Aged. During the day he chatted with residents and visited their new flats for tea.
A display of newspaper clippings and photos from this event formed a display at Wesley House when they recently held a 25th anniversary party.
A newspaper report of the event read: "The effervescent Eric started his familiar face-slapping, foot-hopping Morecambe and Wise routine.
He then met residents, Lillie Edwards and Fred Emmott and his wife Margaret inside after sharing a bag of sweets with the rest of the party."
You're having a laugh
JENNIFER Mortimer of Morecambe has several pictures taken when Eric Morecambe opened Cartmel Day Centre in the resort.
She remembers the date – January 12, 1981 – very well, as it was her birthday.
Jennifer, who features in many of the photos, was a driver transporting elderly people to the centre and has fond memories of the official opening. "Eric Morecambe was lovely, out of this world," she said.
"He was as daft as a brush and never rested all day. We had about 50 clients and he stopped to speak to them all and had a laugh with everyone.
When he found out it was my birthday, he put his arm around me." As can be seen in one of her photos.
Bringing lots of smiles
ROLAND Brooke met Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise in 1976 at the Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester.
"They were being feted by The Variety Club of Great Britain because they had been honoured with the OBE.
The headmaster of Sunnyfield School (now Morecambe Road School) and I were invited to the luncheon to receive, from Morecambe and Wise, a mini-bus which the Variety Cub had given to them and which they could then pass on to who they wished.
Since Eric was a Morecambe lad, they were kind enough to donate the mini-bus to Sunnyfield School. Hitherto, all visits out of school by the pupils had been made via public transport, which meant that only certain outings could be financed, but now it was possible to introduce the pupils to the many places of interest in the surrounding area which they had never seen and probably weren't aware existed.
The opening lines of their most popular song Bring me Sunshine In your Smile were never more relevant than in the joy and pleasure the children experienced.
I have never forgotten the difference their kindness made to the school and to the careers department in particular."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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