Showers hit statue fund

Jul 6 2004 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BAD weather hampered a collection by Tom Owen, son of Last Of The Summer Wine actor Bill Owen, for a statue in his father's memory.

Bill, who played Compo, died in 1999. Tom, 54, who plays Compo's long-lost son, Tom Simmonite, in the long-running comedy TV series, needs to raise £35,000 for the statue, which will stand in King's Head Gardens at Holmfirth.

He collected £53 outside Sid's Cafe in Holmfirth, as well as signing autographs and chatting to fans. He was helped by American visitor and Summer Wine fan Helen Jones, from Washington, and Pat Carline, co-editor of Holmfirth's official Summer Wine website.

A Holmfirth boy Alexander Bray, 14, also pulled in the crowds by playing his cornet. He is the son of Andrew Bray, who owns a greengrocer's in Holmfirth and was a friend of Bill Owen's.

Tom said: "The weather was atrocious. If it had been better we would have made a lot of money."

Another collection will be held in September.