Fans want plaque for Harry

Flat cap-wearing poet Harry Harrison died from a heart attack last month at the age of 85, shortly after suffering a stroke.

Around 200 mourners packed Gornal Wood Crematorium for his funeral – among them fellow comic Tommy Mundon, poet Marlene Watson, singer Maggie O'Hara, and Alan "Aynuk" Smith.

A founding father of the hugely successful and long-running Black Country Night Out variety shows, Mr Harrison was famed for his humour, down-to-earth style, and the ease with which he wrote verse in his local dialect. Fans and colleagues alike dubbed him the "godfather" of entertainment.

Now a community leader in Tipton has called for a blue plaque in recognition of Mr Harrison's achievements to be erected and has offered a location.

Barry Whitehouse, of Tipton Community Association, said that the group's Brook Street Community Centre, would be proud to sport the plaque commemorating Mr Harrison's life.

"We've mentioned to the Civic Society that it would be a good idea to consider putting a blue plaque on the Brook Street Community Centre in memory of him," he said.

"His mother had a shop just yards from the centre, and we would be prepared to have such a plaque on the building.

"Keith Hodgkins of the Tipton Civic Society said he was very interested in the idea."

Apart from war service with the Royal Air Force, Mr Harrison lived his whole life within a short distance of the place of his birth.

One of 10 children, he entered the world in Bloomfield Road, Tipton, before moving to Bradley's Lane, Coseley.

His mother ran a general provision shop by the Prince of Wales pub and it was she who encouraged his writing.

On Monday, it was revealed that plans are afoot to honour one of Mr Harrison's Black Country Night Out co-stars, Dolly Allen, with a blue plaque at Brierley Hill's Civic Hall next year.