Page 28 - PBCMarch2014

28 Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 11 No.1 March 2014

Well known celebrity & actor Edward Fox & his wife Joanna David, gave an
interesting insight to The Man, with a number of interesting observations. The
most significant being Dicken’s own request ‘ not to make me the subject of a
monument’. Then, with 9 year old great-great-great grandson Oliver Dickens and
Esha Abedin of the local Charles Dickens Primary School the covers were removed
for everyone to see the new memorial.

The statue itself is very pleasing on the eye, and Oxfordshire sculptor Martin
Jennings seems to have found just the right tone for the purpose. The cost of the
statue –some £140000 - was funded by family members, the Dickens Fellowship
and many other donations.

Something of a scramble followed as press photographers, and yours truly, tried
to get close enough to take as many pictures as possible of both Charles & Oliver.
Oliver looked quite overcome with the attention given to him, but presented
himself very well. Maybe he will join the Pickwick Bicycle Club sometime in the
future and maintain the presence of the name Dickens on our membership list?

The dignitaries, members of the Dickens family and including Samuel Pickwick,
Sgt Buzfuz, Dismal Jemmy & Jack Martin, on behalf of the Club then attended a
gathering in the Guildhall. Later that evening, our Club officers attended a black
tie dinner with those same dignitaries.

Your editor beat a hasty retreat to a local hostelry after the ceremony, before
heading home.

(Photos courtesy of Mr Watty & the Editor)