Man Ends Campaign to Have George Harrison Statue Erected in U.K. Hometown After Request from Late Rocker's Widow

Facebook.com/GeorgeHarrisonA U.K. man who launched a campaign seeking to have a statue of George Harrison erected in the town of Henley-on-Thames, England, has ended the initiative after the late Beatle's widow, Olivia, informed him she didn't support the plan. According to the BBC, James Lambert decided to withdraw a petition he began after Olivia Harrison contacted him and told him that starting a community project named after her late husband would be preferable to her.

"The statue could create problems of different types of fans turning up, the unwanted fans," Lambert explained to the BBC.

Harrison was a longtime resident of Henley, and Olivia still owns the rock legend's famed Friar Park estate, which he bought during the early 1970s. The home also was the site where a deranged fan stabbed Harrison multiple ***** in 1999, about two years before he **** from cancer.

Lambert, meanwhile, said he believed "there was a lot of support" for the statue from many local residents. He noted, "This petition wasn't tapping into the Beatles fanfare worldwide, it was much more to recognize George's contribution to Henley and the affection Henley had for him."

He added that although ending his campaign was "slightly disappointing" to him, "you have to respect Olivia's wishes."

Lambert also said he thought that a community project dedicated to George was a great idea, adding that "it'll be very exciting to see exactly how this transpires."