Chad readers have suggested some popular ‘characters’ who they feel would be deserving of a statue in Mansfield Market Place.
Here are 13 people suggested for a statue – including two duos.
5. The Birchall brothers
Ben Birchall and Tom Birchall, from Mansfield, are English motorcycle-with-sidecar road race World Championship-winning competitors in both F1 category and F2 category and again in the 2017 season – when all competitors used 600 engines. Ben started racing as a passenger in 1999, and became a driver in 2003. Tom started racing as a passenger in 2003. A statue of the brothers would certainly be a fitting tribute. The Birchall brothers definitely put Mansfield on the map... Do you agree? Photo: Mansfield Chad Sport
6. Don Concannon MP
Here is the popular MP on a visit to a colliery in the early eighties. Don Concannon, who died in Mansfield aged 73, was a popular man in the House of Commons. He was a Labour MP for Mansfield (1966-89). Born in Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire, Concannon was educated at Rossington Secondary School and through the Extra-Mural Department of the University of Nottingham. He worked as a miner and as a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) official. He was a councillor on Mansfield Borough Council from 1963. Concannon was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mansfield at the 1966 election. A serious car accident led to his retirement as MP for Mansfield at the 1987 election where Alan Meale succeeded him in the seat. Some feel a statue of Mr Concannon would be a great idea. Photo: JPIMedia
7. John Radford
John Radford is an English businessman and owner of Mansfield Town Football Club, which he bought in 2010. Radford invested into Mansfield Town from then-owners Steve Hymas, Steve Middleton and chairman Andy Saunders, purchasing the club for £1. Owners John and Carolyn Radford never got enough credit for rebuilding Mansfield Town, according to former boss Paul Cox. “He was pivotal in Mansfield Town’s growth,” Paul said. When buying the club, Radford had pledged to invest £500,000 into the club; his investment, however, was higher at an estimated £100,000 per month. He had already given the club £250,000 to save it from administration. Some Stags supporters feel a statue of the 'boss' would be a welcomed addition to the town. Photo: Getty Images
8. Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust pictured outside Mansfield Palace Theatre, 1984. Bernard William Jewry, known professionally as Shane Fenton and later as Alvin Stardust, was an English rock singer and stage actor. Performing first as Shane Fenton in the 1960s, Jewry had a successful career in the pre-Beatles era, hitting the UK top 40 with four singles in 1961–62. The star had moved to Mansfield as a child, where his mother ran a boarding house frequented by musicians and entertainers appearing locally. He was honoured with a statue at Mansfield Palace Theatre in 2022. Is a larger statue needed in the Market Place for one of Mansfield's biggest names? Photo: Mansfield Chad