Blue plaque bid for Belper comic Will Hay
A WORLD-FAMOUS comedian who made his name in Belper is one of 12 historic figures vying to feature on six London-style blue plaques around Derbyshire.
Will Hay was a leading entertainer in the 1930s and starred in a string of successful films including Oh! Mr Porter and Good Morning Boys.
But the roots of his success lay in Belper where he began his performances in 1910 in a tent at the former cattle-market called the Pavilion.
Now the entertainer, who lived from 1888 to 1949, could be recognised by Derbyshire County Council's blue plaques scheme.
They are fixed to buildings to recognise important places or famous people who lived or worked in Derbyshire.
The authority has short-listed 12 people of which the public will vote for six to make the final cut.
Mr Hay was nominated by Andy Minion, of Long Row, Belper, who introduces classic films at The Ritz cinema, Belper.
He said: "People may not remember the name but they probably know the face.
"He was the equivalent of modern-day Harry Hill and an enormous name who broke America. And it all started in a tent in Belper."
Mr Minion said he believed the comedian could have based one of his most famous characters on a teacher from Belper's Green Prep School where he used to board.
He said: "The sketch was called Bend Down and featured Will Hay playing a grumpy schoolteacher."
He wants Mr Hay's plaque to be put on Wellington House, Belper, where he lived from 1910 to 1913.
He had moved to the town from his home city of Manchester to take up a residency at the Pavilion.
Mr Minion said The Ritz could hold a special Will Hay film afternoon if he was one of those selected.
He said the comedian could well have met one of his rivals for the plaques – Arthur Lowe, who played Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army.
Mr Lowe was born in Hayfield in 1915 and was nominated by Hayfield Civic Trust.
People and organisations have nominated characters and buildings for blue plaques since November last year. From the 63 nominated, county council judges selected a dozen. Now the public can vote for the top six.
They can use a form in the county council's Derbyshire First magazine or online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/blue plaques. The closing date for votes is Friday, April 30.
The initiative only applies to the area covered by Derbyshire County Council and excludes the Derby City Council area.
Comments
by Peter, Flintshire
Thursday, April 28 2011, 8:57AM
“In the 1911 census (taken 2nd April) Will Hay was not residing at Wellington House, Belper as mentioned above, but at 17 Brighton Street, Hr Broughton, Salford with wife Gladys and daughter Gladys Elspeth.”