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Video: Yorkshire cricket legend statue unveiled
Friends and family were among hundreds of guests to honour Yorkshire cricket legend Fred Trueman OBE at the unveiling of a new statue.
His widow Veronica and ex-teammate Dickie Bird were the first to touch the statue at the canal basin in Skipton – one of his favourite places.
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The bronze masterpiece, created by artist Graham Ibbeson, was funded by the Fred Trueman Statue Appeal, set up by Northern Rail in 2007.
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Copper Dragon's Fiery Fred ale was also on sale at the event, attended by hundreds of cricket fans.
Fred Trueman, who died in 2006 at the age of 75, was regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers to ever play Test cricket for England.
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The dad-of-five, who grew up in South Yorkshire but later settled in the Skipton area, was the first-ever cricketer to take 300 Test wickets.
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Speaking at the unveiling, Mrs Trueman said: "He would be completely overwhelmed. I think it's really beautiful.
"It's got that fluency, you can almost feel him having released the ball when you look at it; and that slight grin when he knows he's got a wicket.
"I think it's lovely and Fred would be so proud. He would never have imagined this."
She also said she was pleased with the location of the 8ft, 90,000 statue, which had initially divided councillors at Craven District Council.
Some thought the statue should be placed at a sporting venue, while others were upset about the removal of a maple tree at the canal basin.
But Mrs Trueman said: "It's better here because it's a lovely area they've created. People were very fond of Fred.
"He was a larger than life character and I think it will bring people to Skipton to look at the statue because it's a big talking point."
The unveiling followed a gala dinner held in Trueman's honour at the Queens Hotel, Leeds, where Mrs Trueman enjoyed a catch-up with former Yorkshire cricketer and umpire Dickie Bird and ex-Yorkshire captain Brian Close.
Guests also had the chance to bid for auctioned items, including a bat signed by England and New Zealand players after Trueman's final Test match in 1965.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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