Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers to receive touching honour a year on from death

Daily Mirror

08-05-2025

An exhibition, which will include many of Hairy Biker star Dave Myers' personal belongings, will be held at the museum in Dave Myers' home town of Barrow-in-Furness
Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers is set to have a museum temporarily named in his honour. The much-loved TV chef, who died of cancer last year aged 66, will be honoured with a free exhibition at The Dock Museum in his hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, next month.
It will include a showcase of his belongings, including his motorbike helmet, some of his clothes and the dance shoes he wore while starring on Strictly Come Dancing. Dave's widow Liliana, 58, said: 'I can't think of a better place to have donated some of Dave's most loved possessions to be on show to the public.
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"There are areas of Dave's life that are unknown beyond his family and friends so it will be interesting to make this public. He had a long career as a makeup artist before becoming a 'Hairy Biker' and we have many photographs from this period.
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"I've also donated some of his personal clothing – much of it stained by food! You could read a manual of his life from his shirts!'.
Dave first appeared on TV alongside pal Si King in 2004's The Hairy Bikers ' Cookbook. They went on to present more than 30 series and specials before Dave revealed his cancer diagnosis in May 2022.
But, before finding fame, Dave worked as a makeup artist specialising in prosthetics. He worked for the BBC and also freelance on TV shows, including Top of the Pops, where he painted the iconic white stripe on pop star Adam Ants' face.
He was also employed on other programmes, including The Generation Game, Spooks and The life and times of a she devil. He first met Si King on the Gambling man, a Catherine Cookson TV drama. The exhibition will be part of the Dave Day 2 celebrations to be held on June 21 and June 22 in Barrow. The Dock Museum will be renamed 'The Dave Museum' from June 18 until June 23. The exhibition will be open from June 20 until October 5 and will be free to enter.
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Dock Museum manager, John Irving said: "I've known Dave for years, and his story is fascinating. I'm both honoured and excited to have collected all these much loved items from Lili and cannot wait to share his story with the wider public.
"Everyone knew Dave as a Hairy Biker, but there is so much to tell from his life, especially around Barrow."
Charlotte Hawley, Collections and Exhibitions manager for Westmorland and Furness Council, said: "It is both an honour and a pleasure to collaborate with Lili Myers in bringing this exhibition, celebrating the life of Dave Myers, to the Dock Museum and his hometown of Barrow.
"I am thrilled to share not only previously unseen objects related to Dave's personal journey but also some truly iconic items from his time on television."
Prior to the exhibition opening, curators will be taking a digital photo-booth around the local area for members of the public to record a message for Lilli or leave a memory of Dave using green screen technology.