Bronzed down the bay

Just as you thought the headline meant that it was time for a touch of Summer sun and recess, the bronzing refers to Cardiff's new statue in honour of one of its most famous sons.

A seven-foot bronze sculpture of Cardiff-born composer Ivor Novello will be unveiled in the city on Saturday. Novello (real name David Ivor Davies) who died aged 58 in 1951, was famous as composer, singer and actor and one of the most popular musical stars of the 20th century.

The statue shows Novello at work and will be sited near the Wales Millennium Centre where his musical comedy Glamorous Nights was staged as a tribute to him in 2005. It is the work of Peter Nicholas, who was educated at Ebbw Vale County Grammer School and studied at Cardiff Art School and the Royal College of Art, London.

The celebration will begin inside the Centre on the Glanfa Stage at 10.30am where, after a brief performance by singer Beverley Humphries featuring Novello's music, and short speeches, the audience will move outside for the unveiling ceremony at 11am.