Campaign for statue to honour singer Chris Rea
PAA campaign has been launched for a statue of the late Chris Rea, widely known for his festive hit Driving Home for Christmas, to be installed in his home town.
Middlesbrough musician Jamie Sample has started a petition calling for a permanent tribute to "one of Teesside's greatest musicians".
Following the call on BBC Radio Tees, local politicians and the Mayor of Teesside have voiced their support for the plans.
Sample said the singer should have a statue in a "prominent" location and highlighted the Rea's old family ice cream shop on Linthorpe Road.
Luke Myer, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "I completely agree with Jamie that Chris Rea should be honoured with a permanent statue in Middlesbrough and it's clear that many people across Teesside feel the same.
"It would be a fitting way to recognise his cultural legacy and the pride he had in where he came from."
Tees Valley Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen said Sample's proposal was a "great idea" and offered to work with Middlesbrough Council to make it happen.
Sample said if Rea had been a footballer he would have a statue outside the Riverside Stadium, but was in a different position as a singer, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East, said the timing of Rea's death "really brought home to us how well loved he was in his home town".
He said: "His music has been the soundtrack of local life with the likes of Steel River, Stainsby Girls and Driving Home for Christmas all Teesside anthems, so I think it's entirely appropriate that he be honoured and a statue would be a fitting tribute."
Middlesbrough's Labour Mayor Chris Cooke said he would support plans for a statue as a "fitting tribute" to the local "legend".
