Celebrating Kes: A Leicester Square Tribute to Billy Casper 

A community‑led campaign is underway to bring a piece of Barnsley’s cultural heritage to the heart of British cinema and they would love your help to achieve this. 

The Barnsley Kes Group, together with actor David “Dai” Bradley, are working to install a replica of Graham Ibbeson’s much‑loved 2021 Kes statue in Leicester Square, London. The organisers of Statues‑In‑The‑Square have already granted permission for the installation, marking a major milestone for the project. 

To make the dream a reality, the campaign aims to raise around £55,000 to cover the cost of the replica sculpture, plinth, installation, ongoing maintenance and the promotional activities for the unveiling event. 

Placing Billy Casper — and his kestrel — alongside iconic figures such as Mary Poppins would be a powerful moment for Barnsley and for working‑class storytelling everywhere. It’s a chance to celebrate a film that continues to resonate across generations and across the world. 

The significance of Kes is undeniable. Voted the seventh greatest British film of all time by the British Film Institute, it even featured in Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games as a symbol of British culture at its best. Many well‑known actors and creatives cite the film as life‑changing, including Samantha Morton, Stephen Graham, David Thewlis, Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Day‑Lewis, Jarvis Cocker, Cillian Murphy and others. 

The project is fully endorsed by David Bradley, who portrayed Billy Casper in the original film, and remains a passionate supporter of its legacy. 

If successful, 2028 could see hundreds of people from Barnsley travelling to London for a very special unveiling — a red‑carpet celebration honouring one of Britain’s most beloved stories. 

This is a non‑profit community initiative, and every contribution helps. The campaign also has a fundraising shop, with all purchases supporting the installation effort.