Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 9th September, 2016)

Very impressive, Billy also played cricket for Dalton in the West Lancs League, I played against him a couple of times. He was a very powerful man.

Is it just me or does this statue not look very much like Billy Boston?
Billy is a well respected Honourary Wiganer and deserving of a statue in a prominent position.

Thomas I like the way you have got Billy on the left side of the photo so it looks like he is running down the right wing

" The Man - none better ". Thank You Billy for all the many times I saw you play when I was a young'un and the thrill of just watching you. Thanks Tommy also, great photo.

Give it to Billy.

I don't believe I've seen that statue. I don't believe it looks much like Billy Boston either, so I believe I'll probably give it a miss. I believe I possess an umbrella very similar to the one in the photo though. I believe it's under the stairs. I'd best root it out as I believe its forecast rain for later.

Its a very impressive piece of sculpture but for me the facial features aren't quite him somehow......but I like it all the same! You can believe its him!!!!!!!

First class - agree with Mick's right wing comment, just hope he's about to cross the line against St Helens.

DEN, Joan, Billy's wife says it's a good likeness of the man she married, that's good enough for me.

Why waste money on a statue of a Welsh man ? Not all Wiganers are into rugby

Wonder if it was done by the same person that did the Fred Dibnah one in bolton,that doesn't look very much like him either.

Congratulations to Billy and the team who worked so hard to honour a fine man. One who gave pleasure to many, if not Allan.
Hopefully The Wigan Heritage and Mining Monument Campaign will be as successful.

Oh Allan!, you really are a very small minded individual, aren't you?

It's good to see someone associated with the town having a statue to mark his achievements.

It would be good to consider others too (bio from Uni of Glasgow website):

Born and Bread in Wigan, Sir Ernest Bullock (1890-1979) was Gardiner Professor of Music at the University of Glasgow from 1941 to 1952. He was awarded an LLD in 1955.

Bullock studied Music with Sir Edward Barstow (former organist of the Parish Church, Leeds Parish Church and York Minster) and graduated BMus (1908) and DMus (1914) from the University of Durham. He was already becoming known as a promising composer before the outbreak of the First World War, in which he served as a Captain and Adjutant in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Bullock was an organist at Manchester Cathedral, St Michael's College, Tenbury and Exeter Cathedral before he became organist at Westminster Abbey in 1928, and he was was joint musical director and conductor of the Coronation Service in 1937. In 1941 he was appointed to the University Chair and Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

During his time in Glasgow, Bullock made a significant contribution to Scottish music and he was knighted in 1951. He left Glasgow in January 1953 to become Director of the Royal College of Music in London.

The Royal College of Music in London is generally considered to be the best specialist music university in the world.

What d'ya think?

Could Allan possibly be a supporter of that round ball game? Not many Wiganers in that team. Certainly never see a statue of one of their players. Just sour grapes methinks.

I guess it's a good sculpture, but I agree with the people about the likeness. It looks more like Harry Belafonte than Billy Boston. I've seen a few bronze staues etc in North America and there is the same problem with a true likeness to the subject. I guess it's hard working in bronze

I guess it's a good sculpture, but I agree with the people about the likeness. It looks more like Harry Belafonte than Billy Boston. I've seen a few bronze staues etc in North America and there is the same problem with a true likeness to the subject. I guess it's hard working in bronze

I think we are all used to Billy as he is now; the sculpture is of his younger days. And Billy himself, and Joan, seem pleased with it. I went to look at it yesterday and I think it's lovely, and a much-deserved tribute to a man who has remained true to Wigan and its people. He is only a "Welshman" because he was born in Wales. Billy is Wigan through and through, and a Gentleman, as is Tom, who took the photo.

Irene has put it very well. The place you have in your heart can be yours as much as the place on your birth certificate. I also echo her comment on Mr.Walsh

Thankyou Neil. To quote from the TV series, "We belong here, right or wrong here, Where the Heart is".

Congrats to Billy for being recognised for his great sporting achievements.
Shame on Wigan Council for using the achievements of others to promote themselves and their socialist "Believe " agenda.

Allan merely stated that ' not all Wiganers are into rugby ', and that's a fact. Mr. Platt stated that the statue looks more like Harry Belafonte than it does Billy Boston. That's a fact also. I have a great deal of respect for people who state facts in the face of popular opinion. The abysmal statue of Fred Dibnah in Bolton was done by one of ' comedian ' Ted Robbins' sisters Sam. I could have made a better job of it myself. And there's another fact.

Regards. Ozy.

Well said Ozy. You should be a writer. The Veebs nonsense I don't like but you have a great way with words. I was better at sports at school than my school work so always admire people who can make words flow correctly. This is not the great Billy Boston I remember, even in his younger days.

When did Billy play Cricket for Dalton?...(not doubting, just wondering)

....By the way,I like the statue,however, I can't say whether it resembles Billy, I was young when I saw him play Rugby,and am very definitely not young now!! It's been a long time!

I think Billy played cricket for Highfield.

If his wife says it was like him as a young man, why do others doubt her. There are very few statues in Wigan and this is a fine one. Yes there are probably others who consider a statue should be made in recognition of deserving people - if you think that, go out there and get it done, and good luck to you.

I agree with Allan, Ozzy, that not all Wiganers are into rugby; I have no interest in the game myself, or football, or indeed any sport. It is Billy himself I admire, for what he has achieved and for his modesty and gentlemanly ways. We all see things differently. Take Lawrence Isherwood, (another Wiganer)... As far as his paintings go, I am with you there when I say "I could have made a better job of it myself", but many people think his work is marvellous. We all have our own opinions and we are all entitled to them. Hope you are keeping well, Ozzy. x.

Its a great statue ,,, just not Billy.

I wholeheartedly agree with you Irene. I only ever went to one rugby match in the early sixties. Seeing big beefy men running after a strangely shaped ball and covered in 'slutch' was not my idea of Heaven! It was my dad who was the fanatic in our household-but I was always delighted when Wigan won and always proud when they went to Wembley! I went in for more 'girly' pursuits but often wonder where all those glory days went to!

Slutch! Now there's a word, not heard it since my childhood.

We used to make "slop-dash" with it, Kas!

Urban Dictionary: slutch
www.urbandictionary.com › define › ter...
Thick mud of a wet nature, soil that has been mixed in with rain and then walked through to create slutch. Maybe a Lancashire expresion. On going for a proper walk out and getting "slutched up to the eyeballs" meaning ...

Has a Wigan fan for 54 years .Having a statue of Billy puts the icing on the cake .However the plinth is an absolute disgrace it is red rust and the channel around the statue gets filled with water .This will only get worse in winter if not treated.Take a look at the new John Woods Statue at Leigh Sports Village and the plinth is made of a different material and looks a lot better .Hope they are not going to leave it like that