Remembering Eric Morecambe - a man who made us laugh and who loved watching birds, one species in particular

 

The bird that captivated Eric Morecambe - this painting graced a wall in one of the rooms at his Hertfordshire home (photo: Hansons)

ERIC Morecambe’s daughter, Gail, has revealed the favourite bird of her late father:  the Great Crested Grebe.

Morecambe, who died aged 58 in 1984, is most remembered as one half of the Morecambe and Wise comedy partnership which was an enduring success for many years.

The many shows on TV enjoyed huge viewing figures. Avid watchers  included the late Queen, Prince Philip and Margaret Thatcher.

But away from showbiz, Morecambe’s passions included fishing and birdwatching - particularly the latter.

His eyes (and ears) was always alert for  Kingfishers, Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings and unusual species of duck.

"But it was the Great Crested Grebe that was his favourite," says Gail Stuart who lives in Northamptonshire.

An aquatint study of one such bird, which hung on the wall in one of the rooms of his home in Hertfordshire, will go under the hammer in a two-day sale of Morecambe’s possessions at an auction to be conducted by Hansons at  their salesroom in Etwall in Derbyshire on January 10-11 next year.

                                            

Eric Morecambe (right) with his birdwatching buddy, the artist, Gordon Beningfield (photo: Hansons)