Hopes to honour Black Country-born Dandy cartoonist is a step closer

More than £250 was raised at a special event at the weekend remembering the life of the man who brought two of the most famous comic characters to life; Desperate Dan and Korky the Kat.

Generations of children grew up seeing the Oldbury cartoonist's drawings of the characters which adorned the pages of the Dandy during the second half of the 20th century.

He was also responsible for creating the front covers for each of the Dandy's famous annuals between 1966 and 1987, which went on sale every Christmas.

Mr Grigg died aged 97 in 2013 but now Black Country poet and musician Brian Dakin is spearheading the campaign to have a blue plaque placed at Rood End Primary School in Oldbury, where he attended as a boy.

Around 60 people packed into the Langley Pumphouse in Oldbury on Saturday at the show which featured musical and spoken-word performances focusing on Mr Grigg's life.

His sons Steve and Robert Grigg were also at the event, which was held just a couple of weeks before what would have been Mr Grigg's 100th birthday.

Mr Dakin, who is also known by his stage name Billy Spakemon, said: "It was just amazing, The whole show came together really well.

"Each performer composed original pieces on how they were affected by Charlie, anything from reading his comics as a kid to his later life when he suffered with Alzheimer's. The backdrop had some of his cartoons on too."

The Dandy was published for more than 75 years and was a massive favourite alongside rival the Beano in its heyday, before moving entirely online in 2012.

And Mr Dakin believes a blue plaque would provide the recognition Mr Grigg deserves in his home town.

He said: " His son Steve said nobody knows who he is. He influenced generations of children with this big volume of work.

"In Langley, most people have no idea but when you tell them they say 'wow'.

"He was a tool setter and gave up his job to follow his dream.

"And he stayed in Langley. He had the opportunity to work in the DC Thomson (Dandy publisher) headquarters but said 'no, I want to stay in the Black Country'."

The fundraising effort is now around two-thirds of the way to its total.

A further event is planned for December and it is hoped the plaque will be in place early next year.