Keith Floyd, 'Stirred but not Shaken'...the autobiography.
Wiveliscombe is a thriving small town with a population of around 3,000, situated at the foot of the Brendon Hills near Exmoor in West Somerset. Known affectionately as Wivey, the town has historic connections with the Bishop of Bath and Wells and was important as a trading crossroads and market. Wiveliscombe has had in the past as many as twenty eight pubs or inns and the tradition of brewing, dating back to the early nineteenth century, survives and prospers, placing Wivey firmly on the map with its Cotleigh and Exmoor Ale brands. As a busy rural centre and hub of the 10 Parishes area, Wiveliscombe likes to embrace new opportunities for economic and community development.
'I have named this recipe after my old school in Somerset where the staff very
kindly asked me to take the home economics class…'
kindly asked me to take the home economics class…'
Keith Floyd, Wellington Chicken with cream sauce from
'Floyd on Britain and Ireland'.
'Floyd on Britain and Ireland'.
Keith Floyd and his family had a long history of residence in the town. In his autobiography he fondly remembered his schooldays at Wiveliscombe Primary School and later at Wellington School, and he often returned to Wivey to visit acquaintances or watch rugby. In the 1970s he came back to live here with his son who attended the Primary School and he regarded this as one of the most contented periods of his life. Floyd was the local boy made good, a celebrity son of the Parish. He is warmly remembered by many Wiveliscombe people who are happy to support this unique opportunity to raise a memorial to such a renowned resident.
'"Have you heard about Elvis Presley?" Until that moment my life had been
quite tranquil and very ordinary. Mr. Furze’s bicycle shop at Wiveliscombe
was the hub of my life…'
Keith Floyd, 'Floyd’s American Pie'.
The most appropriate site for the memorial sculpture is the Jubilee Gardens. This is an attractive, visible, easily accessible space in the centre of the town. Its artist designed seating and gates form part of the Wiveliscombe Heritage Arts Trail and the proposed Keith Floyd sculpture would add another creative dimension to this well-used community area.
