Newquay Welcomes “Surfer of the South”
Newquay has officially welcomed a striking new landmark to the town, following the handover of the “Surfer of the South” statue on the afternoon of Thursday 25th June.
Date :
26th June
Categories :
The 16-foot bronze waverider, created by Morris Singer Foundry, has been generously donated to the town by The Keogh Foundation in recognition of Newquay’s rich surfing history and the family’s longstanding connection to both the town and the sport.
The sculpture commemorates more than 60 years of surfing heritage in Newquay and serves as a lasting tribute to the late Mr Keogh, who passed away in 2023. The Keogh family first moved to Newquay in the late 1960s, at a time when surfing was just becoming established locally. They went on to play a pioneering role in the industry, opening some of the town’s earliest surf-related businesses, including one of the first surf shops and surfboard factories.
The artwork has been installed at The Killacourt, a site chosen for both its suitability and its significance, overlooking the bay where Bluewater surfing first began six decades ago.
The sculpture was formally handed over to Newquay Town Council by Mrs Cherrilyn Keogh, and received by the Mayor of Newquay, Cllr Drew Creek, during a special event marking the occasion.
The town council would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr and Mrs Keogh, and the entire foundation, for donating this incredible piece of artwork to the town.
To celebrate the arrival of the sculpture, Newquay Town Council has launched a community drawing challenge, where we are inviting children to capture their own interpretation of the Surfer of the South.
Participants can pick up a free entry sheet from Newquay Library and Information Service, and are invited to return their completed artwork to the library by 5pm on
Monday 6th July. Entries will be displayed in the library from Wednesday 8th July, and one lucky participant will receive a family day pass to Lappa Valley, which has been kindly donated by their team.
Families will also have the opportunity to take part in the challenge at the opening Newquay Session event, which will be held on the Killacourt on Saturday 4th July. For more information, please visit www.newquay.gov.uk
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