Fans of Rik Mayall gathered in London yesterday as the late comedian was honoured with a fitting tribute, a memorable bench in Hammersmith. The bench replicates the one seen in the opening credits of his BBC series ‘Bottom’ which he co-wrote and starred in alongside Ade Edmondson.

Rik MayallMayall with Ade Edmondson in 'Bottom'

The bench, situated near Hammersmith Bridge Road in Hammersmith, west London, bares a plaque with the inscription, ‘In Memory of The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Dr The Rik Mayall. Pan Global Phenomenon. Equality, Opportunity, Wisdom, Freedom & Love. Barbara: Love Is The Answer.’

Fans of the comedian campaigned to urge Hammersmith and Fulham council to allow the memorial bench at the site near where ‘Bottom’s’ opening credits were filmed. The petition was started just days after the comedian’s death by fan Jamie Bird and eventually gained mover 7,000 signatures.

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The beginning of the inscription, The Man, The Myth, The Legend was chosen by Mayall’s daughter Bonnie, who was present at the unveiling. While ‘Pan Global Phenomenon’ was the comedian’s own joking description of himself.

"Equality, Opportunity, Wisdom, Freedom and Love" were listed by Mayall as the five mantras to live by at his honorary degree acceptance speech, while "Barbara: Love is the Answer", was a phrase he would often say to his wife, Barbara Robbin.

The original bench as seen in ‘Bottom’s’ opening credits had been removed by the council a few years ago. In a 2010 interview with the BBC Mayall described how he learnt of the bench's removal when asked what the worst journey he ever made across London was. 

“Hammersmith is my stomping ground I suppose. And one of the great opening credit sequences was for the telly show Bottom, where you had Richie and Eddie - me and Ade - sitting on a bench” he said. 

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“'If you were to come to the end of King Street where it meets the big roundabout to get to the Hammersmith Apollo, you'd find that same bench on a traffic island - until one day they took it away and put a pelican crossing in its place.”

“That for me is the worst journey I ever made, discovering what had happened to that bench.”

Rik MayallRichie and Eddie, the Hammersmith hardmen

Mayall passed away suddenly in June, reportedly having suffered 'an acute cardiac event' after his morning run. He is survived by wife Barbara and the couple’s three children Rosie, Sid and Bonnie.