Dad's Army statue set for June

THETFORD'S link with Walmington-on-Sea is set to be strengthened following the commissioning of a Dad's Army statue and a community play.

The Friends of Dad's Army Museum launched an appeal two years ago to create a bronze statue of Capt Mainwaring to celebrate the town's connection with the famous television sitcom.

The group has revealed that it plans to unveil the new landmark in nine months time after commissioning a Suffolk-based sculptor to bring the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard leader to life.

Sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn, who created the Bobby Robson bronze statue in Ipswich, has been tasked with permanently immortalising Capt Mainwaring, which is set to be positioned between the Bell and Anchor Hotels, where the cast and crew stayed during the filming of the series between 1968 and 1977.

It comes after the Friends of Dad's Army Museum, who hope to unveil the statue during a weeklong celebration from June 15 to 20, reached the halfway mark of a �20,000 appeal earlier this year.

Alongside the unveiling, a stage play is to be produced by the Walmington-on-Sea Players, who are looking for actors and behind the scenes staff to make the project a community event.

The project will be directed by Ian Gower, who first adapted Dad's Army to the stage in April 2002.

Mr Gower said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to work with the people of Thetford and the surrounding area to bring Dad's Army home to Walmington-on-Sea. Having the opportunity to work where many of the original location shoots took place is a really exciting prospect as Dad's Army history is all around you.”

An open meeting will be held at the Carnegie Room, Thetford, on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. For more information, contact production manager Corinne Fulford on 07802 701911 or e-mail dadsarmythetford@googlemail.com