Will George Harrison's widow agree to Beatle tribute?
George Harrison's widow Olivia rejected calls for a statue of her husband in Henley-on-Thames, where he lived for much of his life, fearing her home would be overrun by Beatles fans. But, undeterred by her wishes, local councillors are now determined to press ahead with some form of lasting monument.
The mayor of Henley, Councillor Lorraine Hillier, is beating the drum for the former Beatles guitarist once more, and has suggested a memorial garden on a green triangle of land, which a developer has offered to the town council free of charge if it agrees to maintain it.
Harrison moved to Henley- on-Thames, in Oxfordshire, in 1970, when he bought Friar Park, a 120-room Victorian neo- Gothic mansion, set in almost 30 acres. He died of cancer aged 58 in 2001. The town's deputy mayor, Julian Brookes, says: 'We don't have any memorials in the town for George Harrison, who lived here for 30 years. Perhaps he should be recognised.' The council is now proposing to approach Olivia to see whether she would welcome the garden initiative.
Various proposals for a memorial have been considered over the years, including a petition for a statue, which gained 2,000 signatures of support. However, that idea was dropped after Olivia, who still lives in Henley, made clear her objections. Her wariness is understandable. Her husband nearly lost his life in 1999 after being stabbed by a schizophrenic knifeman who evaded stringent security to break into their home.
By: Sebastian Shakespeare
Source: Daily Mail
