A friend of comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd has launched a campaign to have a street named in his honour in the area where the much-loved entertainer lived all his life. John Martin, from Bootle, believes a permanent memorial would be a fitting tribute to the Liverpool star, urging the city to mark 100 years of his birth next year.
Ken Dodd's life in Knotty Ash
Ken was born in Knotty Ash and lived at his family home on Thomas Lane for much of his life. He died in 2018, aged 90, with complications from a chest infection and bronchitis, following a six-week hospital stay. He had married Anne Jones, his partner of 40 years, just two days prior to his passing.
John said: “I just think this should have been done by now. Ken’s been gone eight years. He is one of the greatest Scousers to live, and there’s so much love for him.
“It should be somewhere that meant something to Ken. He lived at 76 Thomas Lane all his life. If we could have something there, or somewhere in that area, that would mean a lot.”
A world-famous name
“Everyone knows Knotty Ash because of Ken Dodd. I travel all over the world with my job, and people ask me, ‘Is Knotty Ash a real place?’ They’ve heard of it because of Ken.
“I’d love to see the Knotty Ash signs changed to say something like, ‘Welcome to Knotty Ash - home of Sir Ken Dodd and the Diddy Men’.”
John, who has worked as a comedian for around four decades, first met Ken through the comedy circuit and said the older performer quickly took him under his wing. He recalled one particular night when Ken gave him an impromptu masterclass in comedy at his Thomas Lane home.
A comedy masterclass
John had driven Ken home after a show and, despite it being around 3.30am, Ken invited him inside. He said: “I went in and we sat in his kitchen. He made us both a cup of tea at quarter to four in the morning and then said, ‘Right, I’m going to teach you what jokes are all about.’
“He said to me, ‘You don’t tell a joke. A joke has to be sung.’ I said, ‘What do you mean, Kenny?’ And he said, ‘It’s got to have a beat and a rhythm to it. A joke has to swing.’
“He gave me great advice over the years. He was a very clever man. We could talk about politics, life, absolutely anything. He was very well read, very loyal, and if you told him something in confidence, it stayed in confidence.”
Centenary tribute
John’s campaign comes ahead of what would have been Ken’s 100th birthday on November 8, 2027. John believes the centenary would provide the perfect opportunity for a permanent tribute.
He added: “Next year will be the centenary of his birth, on November 8, so what a wonderful time to unveil something special and permanent around the place where he lived.
“I think it would be fantastic. I think it would have wonderful support and could be a real boost for the area and for local businesses. We all know how tough it is out there.
“I was given the honour and responsibility of carrying Ken’s coffin so the least I can do for him now is fight to get him some proper and permanent recognition in his beloved home city of Liverpool.
“There’s a great love for Ken Dodd, certainly on Merseyside and throughout Britain. He was the greatest stand-up comedian I ever saw in my life. People absolutely adored him.”
