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BBC News
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sir Ken Dodd £15m Happiness Centre shelved over lack of funding
A multi-million pound scheme to create a "happiness centre" in honour of legendary Liverpool comedian Sir Ken Dodd will not go ahead after failing to secure funding. Proposals for the £15m centre, slated to be built next to the Royal Court Theatre in the city centre, were signed off by Liverpool Council last year. It had been intended to exhibit the late Sir Ken's vast personal collection of artefacts and joke books, as well as providing performance spaces for budding entertainers. However, the trustees of the scheme, including his widow Lady Anne Dodd, have "with a heavy heart" confirmed it will not go ahead after failing to secure funding through the National Heritage Lottery Fund. As a result, the charitable foundation set up in Sir Ken's name said it was "reluctantly" withdrawing from the trustees of the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation (KDCF) and the Royal Court Liverpool Trust (RCLT) had been working together for eight months to secure alternative funding avenues. But both cited a challenging public funding backdrop for new capital projects, despite having already invested in the development, design and planning of the project with a pledge from KDCF to cover two thirds of the cost of a new build. Before he died in 2018, aged 90, Sir Ken had set up the foundation to support performing arts charities and organisations across the UK, particularly on the decision to not move ahead with the "fantastic idea", Lady Anne said: "Comedy was Ken's life, and he was always eager to help, advise and offer encouragement to new comedians and new talent."An iconic museum and heritage attraction where entertainers could rehearse and perform, linked to a permanent exhibition of Ken's treasured artefacts and joke books, would have been a most fitting tribute to a man who was viewed as a national icon, not just in Liverpool."It is a shame, despite the best efforts of the Royal Court Theatre and the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, that we could not attract the level of funding necessary to turn our vision into reality."Gillian Miller, chief executive of the Royal Court Theatre, added: "There simply aren't sufficient funds available to meet the demands of so many projects like ours at this moment in time." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Western Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Transformation of Haverfordwest Castle to involve locals
Pembrokeshire County Council is working with Haverfordwest Castle CIO to create a new visitor experience in the old County Gaol within the castle grounds. This initiative, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, aims to showcase stories from Pembrokeshire's past, present, and future. People are encouraged to share their thoughts on what they'd like to see at the castle by filling in a questionnaire at or picking up a paper copy at County Hall, Haverfordwest. The survey takes around five minutes and residents are asked to share their own stories, memories, and thoughts about the county. The new visitor experience will not only focus on the castle but will also highlight stories from across the county, reflecting the unique character of Pembrokeshire and its people. The project aims to create an attraction that resonates with both locals and visitors, drawing on the stories, ideas, and memories of those with ties to the castle or other parts of Pembrokeshire. The transformation project has been in development for nearly a decade, in collaboration with a group of community stakeholders. Once completed, the new attraction will be managed by Haverfordwest Castle CIO, a charitable organisation that has emerged from this stakeholder group. The first stage of the project is already underway, focusing on restoring the castle and the old gaol, with funding from the Levelling Up Fund. Once these areas are ready, they will be fitted out with an exhibition. The project, which has been nearly a decade in the making, has been developed with input from an active group of community stakeholders. Haverfordwest Castle CIO will run the attraction once it opens.
