Surf statue officially handed over to Newquay

A bronze statue celebrating Newquay's surfing heritage has been officially handed over to the town by its donors.

The 16ft sculpture, named Surfer of the South, overlooks Towan Beach from the Killacourt and has been gifted as a permanent landmark celebrating Newquay's reputation as the UK capital of surfing and board riding.

The £250,000 artwork has been fully funded by Stuart and Cherrilyn Keogh through the Keogh Foundation, which was established to commission public works of art reflecting the area's history and heritage. The sculpture also serves as a lasting legacy to Stuart Keogh, who died in 2023 at the age of 76.

Mark Chapple went along to the official handover ceremony and spoke to Cherrilyn Keogh, along with two members of Newquay's original surf pack, Roger Mansfield and Trish Scarlett, about the statue and what it means to the town. Listen to his report below...

The Keogh family first moved to Newquay in the late 1960s as surfing was becoming established in the town. They went on to create some of Newquay's earliest surf-related businesses, including a surfboard factory at Holywell Bay and the Newquay Surfing Centre on Fore Street.

The idea for a surfing landmark dates back to the 1980s, when Stuart and Cherrilyn Keogh saw similar statues in Australia and California and wanted to create a permanent tribute to Newquay's surfing heritage.

The statue was created at the Morris Singer Foundry in Hampshire. Installation work began in February with the construction of the base before the bronze surfer was lifted into position overlooking Newquay Bay.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Newquay Mayor Drew Creek said the sculpture recognised more than 60 years of surfing history in the town.

He said: "Stuart Keogh opened a surfboard factory at Holywell Bay, then his own surf shop on Fore Street. With his wife Cherry beside him, it became the Newquay Surfing Centre - a name two generations of surfers will remember.

"That's the thread running through everything we're marking today. Surfing isn't just something we do - it's who we are here in Newquay, the UK capital of surfing and board riding. It's in our economy, our identity, the way visitors picture us before they've even arrived. It's given us jobs, friendships, and a way of life built around this stretch of water."

The sculpture is intended to recognise the generations of surfers who helped establish Newquay as one of Britain's leading surfing destinations, including many of the town's early pioneers.

Several locations were considered for the landmark, including Fistral Beach, Tolcarne Beach and Towan Headland. After consultation and technical assessments, the Killacourt was chosen because it overlooks Newquay Bay, where Bluewater Surfing first began around 60 years ago.

The project followed a public consultation carried out by Newquay Town Council and the Keogh Foundation in 2022. It also received backing from early figures in Newquay's surfing scene, including Roger Mansfield, Alan McBride, Dennis Cross and Trish Scarlett.

The Keogh Foundation says it chose the surfing statue as its first project in recognition of Newquay's contribution to surfing in the UK and hopes it will become an enduring symbol of the town's unique connection with the sport.

Mark Chapple went along to the official handover ceremony and spoke to Cherrilyn Keogh, along with two members of Newquay's original surf pack, Roger Mansfield and Trish Scarlett, about the statue and what it means to the town. Listen to his report below.