For a man with no immune system, I’m doing alright.
- Bucket list Ben
Friends own up to Dawley Hollywood sign
Tuesday 8th June 2010, 6:55PM BST.
With their Dawley sign which they erected off Finger Road in Dawley, are left to right Graham Ward, Ellen Davis, Chris Hoofe and Fiona Mapp.
The mystery surrounding the Hollywood-style sign in Telford has been solved – as the artists behind the stunt reveal themselves and give the reason behind their creation.
Six friends, all with connections to Dawley, spent hours cutting out the individual letters and painting them. And today, the pranksters revealed their idea came from the founder of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner.
Ellen Davis was watching TV with her partner Chris Hoofe in April when they saw the Playboy Mansions star on the news, buying the piece of land which is home to the famous Hollywood sign to stop developers building upon it.
Miss Davis, 33, said she thought it would be fun to have a similar one in Dawley and began making preparations.
She said the operation was carried out using “military precision” under the night sky as the group of friends covered themselves in dark paint before going up Paddock Mount on Saturday night.
“We had it all worked out and we knew exactly what we were going to do, but we never imagined it would be picked up by the Press,” said Miss Davis.
“It was all done as a bit of fun. We got the wood and cut out the letters and carried them to the top. Then we hammered the stakes into the ground and put carpet over the top of them so the banging would not be heard by anyone.
“We covered our faces in black paint so we would not be seen. One car saw us and slowed down, but the girl just shouted out the window and said ‘go on.’ I’m just amazed that so many people think it’s funny as well.”
The other artists involved include Jon Poyner, Caroline Ellis, Graham Ward and Fiona Mapp.
Within hours of the sign appearing, hundreds of people signed a Facebook campaign supporting it.
Comments made on the social networking site from Dawley residents include:
* “After a very stressful morning, we drove past the sign and it put a huge smile on my face.”
* “I went and took photos and there was a police van there taking photos, they were really laughing too, well done.”
* “The best addition to Dawley in a long time, keep it up.”
Miss Davis, who works at Cory Environmental in Telford, said her phone has not stopped ringing. “We have even been asked to do one for Dothill,” she added.
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Yeah, way to go!!!!!
Not seen it yet but partner’s mother got her other son to take her to see it last night lol!!
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I must say the DAWLEY-WOOD sign is fantastic but no more than I would expect from the talented people of the town. My question is where were they when all the consultation meetings were taking place to plan and decide the future development of the town? It is sure that their contributions would have been invaluable. Maybe when all the formation work is completed on Paddock Mount then a permanent sign along the lines so ably constructed could be considered. It would get my support. In conclusion I would just like to say” How good it is to hear people laugh!”
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Adrian
Lets talk about the follow up consultation in November which was held for four hours in Parish council offices with no public notice? The secretary of the parish council regeneration partnership is minuted as saying that she was even unaware of this!
Even the original consultation was flawed – held for one day in Dawley (which I missed due to the information arriving late)) and then held another day in a location in Malinslee that I could not locate and which several people who had lived in Malinslee for 20+ years had never heard of.
Perhaps you ought to get your facts right about this consultation nonsense before you start implying that Dawley people have interest in what happens in their locality,
Consultation? there was no consultation!
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well done what a refreshing and joyful piece of fun , its put a real smile on peoples faces!
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The cheek of Cllr Adrian Willaims.
1. He does not live in Dawley – nowhere near it!
2. His fellow Cllr, Anton Brothwood lives in Shrewsbury.
3. The consultation was a fixed up.
4. If he actually spoke to people in Dawley then he would know – most of us are against getting rid of the trees! More so, when planning permission was not granted!
5. The new school could have been built where the existing one is now!
Typical from TAWPA, try to grab the headlines for their own rights!!!
Adrian its time to quit! TAWPA have failed! or do a Gordon Brown hold on for the next 11mths and allow us to boot you out!
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So that’s what they look like. They were all named when they called up Beacon Radio on Monday afternoon! This is amazing.
Can’t believe it took the Shropshire Star three days to find out who they are when Andy Swift on Beacon did it the day after the sign appeared!
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What a funny old site you run. You allow nondescripts to enter comments on your site under various different guises but totally incapable of disguising the fact of who they are. Real Dawley men put their name to what they believe not hide like rats. To suggest that the consultation meetings were not advertised is ridiculous and to state that the meeting in Malinslee was held in a place unknown shows the ignorance of the contributor; Churchill Court has been in existence for fifty years to my knowledge. Also tell me who Great Dawley Parish Regeneration Partnership are no such group exists to my knowledge. TAWPA have failed? If that is the case I don’t know what you call the previous 34 years of Labour rule. But mark this and mark it well we are getting to the bottom of some of the things that your mob were guilty of and in the not too distant future the guilty parties will be brought to explain their involvement. You stupidly state that Dawley people are not interested in what goes on in Dawley I think you will find that you are sadly very wrong. Unlike you I do listen to the people and I will look forward to your challenge whenever you have the guts to stand up and be identified.
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Oh dear, Councillor Adrian Williams is either very stupid or very confused!!
Perhaps he’s upset by the fact that local people are beginning to see through TAWPA’s threats and blustering, as typified by his comment on here.
PS, I am not a member of the “mob” he refers to – neither, as far as I am aware, are the management of the Shropshire Star as he suggests above.
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Adrian
Your reply does nothing but validate my original comments, your arrogance is simply breathtaking – I hope that local residents are taking note!
I was stating facts, the publicity and locations were poor – if the consultation was so successful please publish the figures that participated – I know that there was an incredibly poor response hence your original comments.
You can play with words and doublespeak but you know full well that a regeneration partnership does exist (although maybe not by the title I originally quoted) and that the minutes of the meeting were as I stated – i.e. the secretary stated that she had not been made aware of the November consultation – (which simply put – was a whitewash!)
I think you are fully aware that my final comment should have read “have NO interest” I would remind you that it is YOU who implied that people of Dawley have no interest in their locality not me. Perhaps you are starting to realise that your original comments were not well measured?
So following your request to be more open I will make myself known to you IF I ever see you on the streets of Dawley and I can assure you I am quite real, not a member of any political party and I might add a Dawley resident for over 15 years.
Perhaps, as your role as an elected councillor – you should start to listen to my opinion as a local resident rather than trying to mock me?
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Oh dear, Adrian, you’re obviously very cross.
Sadly I can’t quite work out who with – ‘what a funny old site YOU run’, various references to ‘YOUR mob’ and similar.
Unless you make yourself clearer, I’m afraid you come across a bit like an old bloke sitting chuntering to himself on a bench, occasionally shouting abuse at passing buses.
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Adrain Williams, showing the true colours of TAWPA.
I assume you would also say this mob are responsible for you not getting your parish council, nothing to do with the fact that your proposals would’ve meant it operating £32k below budget, a minimum precept increase of 24%, council tax band D increasing by a minimum of £20 per month.
The consultation for Dawley Wood was at best, poor, yet you defend it, people have found out TAWPA a will vote them out.
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So then, not only has Cllr Adrian Williams accussed the Shropshire Star team of being “mob members” he also accusses residents of the same for expressing an opinion.
TAWPA say they are acting in the best interest of residents, yet post No8 clearly shows they were prepared to place financial burden on Dawley residents, just at a time when each and everyone of us needs to watch every penny we spend.
He has defended destruction of the environment, poor policy and practice whilst throwing out insults.
This is just some of the reasons the TAWPA secretary not only resigned his position with the party, but then promptly left it.
You say you are about to uncover something, I put it to you that you have been uncovered and are about to be uncovered even further.
Watch this space Cllr Adrian Williams, TAWPA are sailing a sinking ship.
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Oh No, not one in Dothill please! It will be ripped down by the local scum in no time!!
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I married a Dawley girl 50 yrs ago this September and have lived here ever since. I think I know all their is to know about Dawley after such a long time. I am now getting sick and tired of all this bickering between the local parties talking about the regeneration of Dawley. How many times, over the years, has the High Street been dug up, re-vamped and put back togethere again by cowboys? It’s a disgrace!!! More to the point, how much money has it cost the local tax-payers? Employ cowboys and you get a cowboy job done. In my opinion, the regeneration of Dawley should just simply be “get a big bulldozer, knock the lot down and start again with the name of Dawley New Town” as it was supposed to have been back in the ’60s!!! A final few words to anyone who wishes to read it – please stop all this constant falling out between yourselves and get on with the job you were ALL voted in to do, otherwise, sling ‘ya hook and let someone else have a go!!! By the way, this is not aimed at any individual or party, I am speaking as a concerned elderly resident. There, I’ve got it off my chest, I’ve wanted to for ages.
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Legendary!
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