Max Miller's Re-Doddication (part two)

Max Miller (The Cheeky Chappie), Britain's top comedian from the 1930s to the 1950s, was born Thomas Henry Sargent in 1894 in Brighton, Sussex, England, where he spent much of his life. On stage he always wore flower-patterned suits and a slightly-tilted trilby hat.

He died in 1963, three years after his last performance.

On Sunday, May 1st 2005, a bronze life-sized statue of Max Miller was unveiled in New Road, Brighton by Sir Norman Wisdom, Roy Hudd, June Whitfield, George Melly, Mayor Pat Blake and members of the Max Miller Appreciation Society.

In 2006 the statue was taken down for safe keeping whilst building work was carried out on the site.

Max, a controversial comedian throughout his career, would not have been surprised that the controversy has continued into the twenty-first century with public debates about the positioning and re-positioning of his commemorative statue.

Max has now returned to a new position in the Royal Pavilion Gardens, New Road, opposite the Theatre Royal. He will be in the midst of buttercups and daisies pointing to a site which was once the Oxford Music Hall.

On August 12th 2007, Ken Dodd (one of Britain's best loved comedians) unveiled the statue at its new site in a special 're-doddication' ceremony.

Joining Ken in entertaining the large audience were Dora Bryan, Dennis Norden, Michael Aspel, Judy Cornwall and an entire 'cheeky' of Max Miller impersonators.

In attendance were John Henty, Brian Dazley and members of the Max Miller Appreciation Society. David Sewell and the staff of the Pavilion Gardens Café supplied refreshments.

Brian Dazley compiled this slide-show, which includes Ken Dodd's hit signature tune 'Happiness'.

http://www.maxmiller.org

http://www.paviliongardenscafe.co.uk

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