TV comic Rik Mayall’s family and fans came from as far away as America to witness the unveiling of a memorial ‘Botton’ bench in Hammersmith.
There were cheers and singing as the bench returned to the spot where it is featured in the opening credits of the cult 1990s comedy Bottom starring Mr Mayall and Ade Edmondson.
The bench is now firmly planted at the junction of Queen Caroline Street and Hammersmith Bridge Road after fan Jaime Bird launched an online petition to get Hammersmith and Fulham Council to place a bench there after the comic’s sudden death in June this year , aged 56.
As the bench was unveiled people sang Cliff Richards’ The Young Ones in memory of the eponymous TV programme and Living Doll which The Young Ones, starring Rik Mayall, sang with Cliff Richards.
Gathered at the unveiling were his children who were visibly touched as well as two fans dressed as Rik Mayall’s character in the Young Ones and Eddie in Bottom, who Ade Edmondson played.
Mark Adams, 48, was dressed as Rik Mayall. He said: “I work on the Hammersmith Flyover refurbishment so pass this spot every day. I was in sixth form when I got into The Young Ones and always loved Rik Mayall so decided I should dress up as him in honour. It’s great there’s a bench now, it’ll cheer me up every time I go to and from work.”
Lawrence Harman, 34, dressed as Eddie, travelled from South End, Essex. He said: “I love everything Rik did, he was such a versatile actor and also wrote things. I thought somebody else would come as Rik and I look more like Eddie.”
A plaque on the bench reads:
In Memory Of The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Dr The Rik Mayall
Pan Global Phenomenon
Equality, Opportunity, Wisdom, Freedom & Love.
“Barbara: Love Is The Answer”
Organiser Ms Bird, 32, said: “Rik Mayall was a legend so we had to get a bench here. I made a promise years ago as a joke to put a bench here so I could sit here as a senile old woman and swear at people just as Bottom did.
“When Rik died my mum reminded me of it so I thought yes, I need to start a petition. So many people got behind it and I can’t thank the council enough, they’ve been great and so helpful.”
American fans Rami, 13, and his father, Phil Levy, 51, were in London on holiday from their home in Tampa, Florida when they found out the bench was unveiled so made sure they were there.
Rami said: “My dad started showing me Bottom when I was about nine and I just loved it. I’ve been a big fan since, although none of my friends know who Rik Mayall is.”
Phil said he was given a video of The Young Ones by a friend who came back from working in England and has been a fan ever since. “Bottom isn’t big in America but I think the humour is universal and you could show it to somebody now or in the 15th Century and they’d find it funny.”
