Queens Park home for old king statue?

The 100-year-old statue used to stand outside the former Bolton Royal Infirmary in Chorley New Road, but it was removed when the hospital was demolished in 1998.

Now former nurse Michael Wyatt, aged 64, a member of the Bolton Nurses’ League, wants to see the statue reinstated at the entrance to Queens Park, close to its original position.

Bolton Council announced earlier this month that it had been given a £3.4 million lottery grant to refurbish the park to its former Victorian glory, and Mr Wyatt would like to see the statue included in the restoration scheme.

Mr Wyatt, of Tintern Avenue, Whitefield, said: “It’s part of our history and heritage.

“It stood at the Bolton Royal Infirmary, which was next to Queens Park, so in a sense it would be like putting it back where it belongs. To dispense with it would be a travesty.”

The statue was installed at the infirmary more than 100 years ago to commemorate a visit by the king.

It was moved to the Royal Bolton Hospital when the infirmary was demolished, but plans to re-erect it at its new site were shelved because of lack of funds.

The statue has sat unused in the corner of a maintenance yard, wrapped in plastic sheets, for 11 years.

Hospital communications manager Heather Edwards said: “Originally we brought the statue from Bolton Royal Infirmary to this hospital with the intention of putting it up here.

“Unfortunately the costs involved in that have proved too high. We’d be delighted if King Edward can be found a new home in Queens Park, especially as it is close to the site of the old infirmary.”

A council spokesman said the lottery cash could not be used to pay for the restoration of the statue, as the money was all accounted for in a detailed bid obtained after years of planning.

He added: “However, we would like to look at any opportunities to include the statue at a later stage, but this would be subject to receiving extra funding to do this.”

julian.thorpe@ theboltonnews.co.uk