WALL GETS CELEBRITY MAKEOVER
WHAT DAUGHTER KATE SAID ABOUT MURAL:
HOLLYWOOD star Kate Beckinsale has issued an emotional thank-you to the people of Beeston for a new mural of her late father - calling it “unbelievably wonderful”.
French artist Zabou began work on the huge life-like portrait of home-grown actor Richard Beckinsale in Station Street on Tuesday and is part of an ongoing street art project in the town centre .
Less than 24 hours later, Kate, who has starred in blockbuster hits such as Serendipity and the Underworld film franchise, took to Instagram (and her 2.1 million followers) with a tear-jerking seal of approval.
Kate’s Instagram post will certainly warm your cockles “Touching people with love and laughs was my father’s absolute purpose in life . To know that even four decades after his death, his hometown holds him this close is so unbelievably wonderful. Thank you so much.
“And thank you so much to @ mrskatiescamps and @bunkamary for taking the time to think of sending it to me. Spread love, it lasts far beyond your lifetime. #beeston#nottinghamboy.”
As of lunchtime yesterday the post had been liked more than 19,000 times and garnered more than 300 comments.
Instagram user @ andrewhawnt praised Kate, 45, for her touching post, commenting: “Very well said. What a legend that gent was and is. Hello from Nottingham!”
@alanpoyser agreed, commenting on the post: “That is just so amazingly beautiful and goes to show how much her father is and will always be loved by so many people.”
The mural is expected to be finished by October 17 and will also include portraits of Sir Paul Smith and Edwin Starr.
Richard Beckinsale suddenly died when he was just 31 from a heart attack.
Growing up in Woodland Grove, Chilwell, his talent was first spotted at Alderman White Secondary Modern School and later honed at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
His first starring role was in the TV sitcom The Lovers, with Paula Wilcox. He followed that by appearing in Rising Damp with Leonard Rossiter, and for the BBC his most famous role was that of Lennie Godber, the hapless inmate of Slade Prison, playing foil to Ronnie Barker’s old lag Fletcher.