Friday’s gala night in memory of Kevin Beattie featured a specially-made short film about the Blues legend and the statue, upon which work is set to begin imminently, made by Punch Films UK.
Town supporters and TWTDers Kevan and Robert Collins, who run Diss-based Punch Films UK, made the film, which features Beattie’s daughter Emma and sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn among others.
"Being Ipswich fans we wanted to do a little more than make a financial contribution and we felt we could do that by making a film about the work that goes into the statue and the thought processes behind it, and also that it would be nice to have some thoughts from the family and on the love towards The Beat,” Kevan said.
"After meeting with Sean Hedges-Quinn it became even more apparent the size of the task. From its idea to completion it’s huge, it’s colossal!
"We hope that people will take the time to watch this short film and if they haven’t yet made a donation then go to the Go Fund Me website and give a little something. However small or big it will be appreciated.
"The Beat loved us fans and now we have the chance to show him how much we loved him. My late father introduced me to Portman Road and my earliest memories go back to even before the Kevin Beattie era.
"My dad’s final match at Portman Road was in 2000 when we we drew 1-1 with Manchester United in our first home Premier League match after promotion, a great and memorable evening.
"But the most memorable part for me was the attention given to my father by The Beat before the match started. I still have that signed programme framed and hanging on my wall.”
Led by the EADT and Ipswich Star in conjunction with BBC Radio Suffolk and TWTD, The Beat Goes On was launched on December 18th last year on what would have been Beattie’s 65th birthday.
The current target is £110,000, although it is hoped that figure will be reduced as the campaign progresses. The total has now reached £80,000 which allows Hedges-Quinn, known as Coach, to be formally commissioned to start work.
Other events coming up over the summer include screenings of Escape to Victory at Greshams on June 12th and 13th where Osman, John Wark, Laurie Sivell and Kevin O’Callaghan will be telling stories from the film in which Beattie was Michael Caine’s body double.
There is also the night of Proper Comedy at Portman Road on Friday 31st May.
You can make a donation online via the Go Fund Me page or send a cheque made payable to ‘The Beat Goes On’ to Kevin Beattie Statue Appeal, EADT, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP1 1RS.
There are also collection buckets at reception at the EADT’s offices and at BBC Radio Suffolk.