A rare portrait of a pike painted by the comedy legend and keen fisherman Eric Morecombe has come to light on the eve of the centenary of the funnyman’s birth <May 14>.
It was given to his angling pal and family friend Morris Murray in the mid ‘60s, who hung it pride of place for the last 60 years.
His son Nigel, who inherited the painting after his father died: said: “Eric was very proud of his ability as a painter and had great pleasure in gifting a picture of a pike to my father in 1966.”
The pair met in Hertfordshire in the early ‘60s when Eric joined the Harpenden Round Table which Morris had founded and was chairman.
They soon bonded over a mutual love of river fishing and, before long, the two families who lived close to each other, were good friends.
Nigel said: “Uncle Eric and Auntie Joan and my mum and dad went out together a lot, and my brother and sister were also good friends with their children.
“In fact, I remember mum and dad meeting The Beatles when they appeared on one of the Eric and Ernie’s TV shows.”
And when the Murray family moved to Poole in 1968, Eric even bought their family home – Brachefield – where he lived until his death in 1984 and his widow Joan remained until she died in 2024, aged 97.
Eric soon became a regular visitor to the Murrays’ new home on the South Coast, taking his fishing rod to get away from the growing pressures of show business as his stardom rocketed.
Nigel contined: “When Uncle Eric came to visit it was fantastic. None of my pals could believe it. He was always such a funny man, always doing the paper bag trick or telling a joke. But no matter how famous he became it never changed him. He always had time for everyone.”
Despite being one of the UK’s favourite funnymen, Eric Morecombe was never happier than bird watching and fishing.
His son, Gary Bartholomew – still one of Nigel’s good friends – said: “It was outside the house that his true passions lay. Like fishing, these outdoors pursuits had begun in childhood through his father, who had the same passions.
“Maybe it was show business getting in the way for many years, but following his heart attack in 1968, he returned to his boyhood memories, recalling what pleasure nature had given him, and given his father, too.”
In his book Eric Morecombe on Fishing, the comedian recalls childhood trips with his father in the Lancashire seaside town from which he took his name.
One of his favourite memories was setting off with his father at first light heading for the beach. As his passion grew, he developed his skills as a trout and salmon fisherman.
Charles Hanson said: “As an auction house we are lucky enough to have built up strong ties to Eric Morecombe’s family, having been honoured to sell the contents of the Morecombe family home of Brachefield – in 2025.
“This painting is a truly personal window into Eric’s love of nature and friendship. It was painted as a gift for a dear friend and remains a rare reminder of his life beyond the stage.”
The painting has a guide price of £5,000-£7,000 at Hansons Auctioneers’ sale in June.
Auction Details
Auction: The Derbyshire Summer Fine Art Auction
Auction date: 4th June 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
