THE STATUE - THE SHOWBIZ EVENT OF THE YEAR 2005 – IN BRIGHTON !

REPEATED IN 2007, TO CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF THE STATUE IN ITS NEW LOCATION IN NEW ROAD BRIGHTON

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UNVEILING 1st MAY 2005

THE UNVEILING ~ MAX DAY

Comic Legend, Sir Norman Wisdom, was in Brighton on Sunday, May 1 (MAX DAY) 2005, to participate in the unveiling of a bronze, life-sized statue of the City’s own ‘Cheeky Chappie’ – comedian MAX MILLER. Announcing this to members, the President of the Max Miller Appreciation Society, Roy Hudd OBE, said: “I’m tickled pink ! One great comic to do the business for a previous one !”

The unveiling of the statue took place in New Road, opposite the Theatre Royal at 11:30 am by Sir Norman, Roy Hudd, June Whitfield, George Melly, Mayor Pat Blake and MMAS's very own Jo Blake.

CELEBRATION LUNCHEON 2005

After the unveiling, Roy Hudd, OBE, President of the Max Miller Appreciation Society, hosted a celebration luncheon in the Brighton Corn Exchange. Many well-known names were present including Sir Norman Wisdom, June Whitfield, George Melly, Dora Bryan, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwall, Christopher Green, Terry Garoghan, Victor Seaforth, Wyn Calvin, Sheila Matthews, John Bardon, scriptwriters David Renwick (One Foot in the Grave), Jimmy Perry (Dad's Army, Hi-Di-Hi), Sir Peter Blake, John Fisher, stars of Coronation Street and EastEnders and numerous local celebrities.

Sir Norman sang his signature tune "Don't Laugh at Me 'Cos I'm a Fool" and the many celebrities reminisced about Max. All this is captured on the DVD of the ceremony and luncheon.

MAX IS BACK

MAXTRAVAGANZA ~ SUNDAY, 12th AUGUST 2007

On 12th August 2007 the statue was unveiled in its new position by Ken Dodd, assisted by Dennis Norden, Michael Aspel and the Mayor of Brighton & Hove.

In 2006 the Max Miller Statue was removed from New Road and put into storage for safe keeping whilst pedestrianisation of New Road proceeded. On completion of these roadworks, Max returned, this time to a new and better 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.

Max's return was celebrated by a Maxtravaganza, second unveiling/ rededication ceremony on Sunday, 12th August at 3pm.

After the ceremony, celebrities, members and guests adjourned for tea, cakes and and a nibble in the Maxi enclosure adjoining the Pavilion Cafe

See BBC TV's Newsreel of event: WATCH

DVD of the Max Miller Statue Unveiling and Celebration Luncheon in Brighton on 1st May 2005 is now available from the Max Miller Appreciation Society

Price £12.99 incl. postage & packing

Peter Webster, sculpture, with the Max Miller statuette No. 1 presented to Roy Hudd, President of the Max Miller Appreciation Society on Sunday, 4th. June 2006.

Statuette is cast in bronze on a marble base. Each will be numbered and made to order. Not more than 15 will be made and then the mould will be destroyed

To order these and other Max Miller goodies, go to

SHOPPING WITH MAX