PROWSE PETITION
STATUE CALL AFTER VADER ON PLINTH
He always said the work he was most proud of was going round the schools as the ‘Green Cross Code Man’ – working with kids, keeping them safe. What a top bloke Change.org petition
APETITION has been set up asking for a statue of Star Wars actor Dave Prowse to be placed on the Edward Colston plinth.
A Darth Vader figurine has appeared on the empty Edward Colston plinth overnight.
This comes after Star Wars actor Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader and was born in Bristol, died on Sunday following a short illness.
Since then, tributes have been pouring in to the Bristolian – who played Darth Vader in the first three Star Wars films – and a leading street artist in the city has created a huge tribute to him – with the artist saying “Bristol has lost a son”.
And now a petition has been set up asking for a statue of the Southmead-born actor – who started his career as a weightlifter, bodybuilder and bouncer before heading off to London for a career as an actor – to be placed on the Colston plinth.
Having attracted more than 700 signatures so far, the petition says: “Dave Prowse, brought up on the Southmead housing estate in Bristol.
“Yes, ‘Darth Vader’ – but he always said the work he was most proud of was going round the schools as the ‘Green Cross Code Man’ – working with kids, keeping them safe. What a top bloke.
“So, let’s get him on the Colston plinth. A person who puts their community ahead of themselves is surely the type of role model we need.
“Flying in the face of all the trappings of the high-life, Dave worked hard at serving the nation’s kids.”
The Darth Vader figurine which appeared overnight on the plinth has its left arm raised and the palm open. It isn’t clear yet who is responsible or whether the 1ft figurine has been placed there with permission.
Bristol City Council has been
contacted for more information.
It is not the first time figures have been placed on the empty plinth of the slave trader since it was torn down, dragged a third of a mile and thrown into the harbour in the summer.
A strange mannequin of Jimmy Savile appeared, before being removed, as well as a figure of a
Black Lives Matter protester.
The toppling of the statue of Edward Colston in the centre of Bristol on June 7 was seen around the world.
Colston’s statue has since been retrieved from the bottom of Bristol Harbour and is being restored ahead of proposed plans to put it in a museum.