TICKLED I’M NOT
Doddy widow in hospital U-turn
SIR Ken Dodd’s widow has ditched plans to present Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with an oil painting of the comic.
Lady Anne Jones made the decision after trouble surrounding the death of tragic tot Alfie Evans, who was treated there.
She wanted to donate the portrait of her husband after he helped raise millions of pounds for vital equipment at the Liverpool medical centre.
But Lady Anne, 76, had a change of heart after protests over the switching off of terminally ill Alfie’s life-support machine turned nasty – with some supporters attempting to storm the hospital, inset.
On Saturday, we told how gifts left outside in memory of the 23-month-old toddler, who died last month of a brain condition, had been stolen. Teddies, balloons, cards and candles left at a tree in nearby Springfield Park shortly after his death have disappeared and the site has been ransacked. A source said: “Sir Ken had a long association with Alder Hey and it felt fitting to have a portrait of him hanging on the wall. But with the negative publicity the children’s hospital received while treating Alfie it was decided it was no longer appropriate.” Sir Ken, who died in March at the age of 90, and fellow comedian Jimmy Tarbuck were chairmen of Alder Hey’s 75th birthday appeal and raised almost £3million.
Last night hospital bosses had not responded to a request for comment. Sir Ken’s agent, Robert Holmes, said: “The decision on where the painting is to be displayed has not yet been taken.”