Plaque honours comedy legend Hope

Around 100 people gathered for the unveiling of a plaque commemorating legendary comedian Bob Hope today – exactly a year after his death.

The plaque, in a Bristol park where Hope used to play as a child, was unveiled by comedian Eddie Large and Bob Hope’s cousin, Sidney.

Hope, who died of pneumonia at his home in Toluca Lake, California, two months after his 100th birthday, lived in Bristol for two years when he was a small child before moving to America with his family at the age of four.

He is known to have enjoyed playing in St George's Park, was bitten by a dog there and got hit on the nose while protecting his own dog from a gang of children.

Hope once said: “I carry both scars to this day and I’ve been leery of dog acts ever since.”

Hope was the most celebrated entertainer in history, receiving more than 2,000 awards including an honorary knighthood in Britain in 1998.

Before unveiling the plaque, Large, who worked with Hope on the 1977 Royal Variety Show, and who lives in nearby north Somerset, said: “He was a fantastic comedian renowned all over the world by fellow comedians.”

Large launched into a specially adapted comedy version of “Thanks For The Memory” with local references.

Hope’s 82-year-old cousin Sidney, from Southampton, posed under the plaque and said: “It’s quite an occasion and honour to be here.”

Bob Hope expert Alan Blackmore, who met Hope twice, gave a short history of his life in the city and its surrounding areas where he is thought to have lived at five different properties.

The colourful 3D plaque was specially designed by local artist Mike Baker and is mounted on the gates of the park.