Eric Morley
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The History of Miss World
In the last half-century,
the world's No. 1 pageant has enjoyed its
fair share of ups and downs.
It all started way back in 1951 as part of that year's Festival of
Britain celebrations. Officially titled the "Festival Bikini Contest,"
it
was the British press who dubbed it "Miss World."
The media frenzy welcomed a global audience bigger than
international events like the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
Fifty years later, it attracts an annual audience of 2.5 billion
people.
Founder Eric Morley, a former bingo hall manager, originally
intended the contest to be a one-time event. But when the Miss
Universe Pageant entered the equation the following year, he
decided to make his show an annual one. For Eric and his wife,
Julia, it then became a life's work and passion. Here's a brief look
at the history of the pageant over the years.
The amazing Eric Morley
Eric Morley was loved and revered by a
great many people, from the most
famous to the most humble. He touch
all their lives and made a difference to
so many. Here are just some of the
landmarks in the remarkable life,
together with a few of the many warm
tributes that have been received.
'Eric Morley was a 'one-off'. People like
this can never be replaced. We just
have to be grateful that we knew him as
a friend.' Wilnelia and Bruce Forsyth.
The BBC televised Miss World from 1959
to 1979 and Thames Television carried if
from 1980 to 1988. At its peak, the show
drew an audience of 27.5 million in
Britain alone, comparable to a royal
wedding.
'Eric was a giant of a man in every
sense, one of the great humanitarians
of the twentieth century.' Tony Hatch,
songwriter and fellow charity fund
raiser.
Eric Morley was instrumental in raising
over £7 million for handicapped and
needy children as President of Variety
Club International.
'I feel I have known Eric Morley for all of
my life. Eric will be greatly missed by
everyone and our sympathy goes out to
his wife, Julia and family.' Sir Henry
Cooper OBE KSG
Although Eric Morley started at Mecca in
1946 as a £15-a-week PR man, he
finished as Chairman. He turned Mecca
from a small catering and dance
company into the country's top
entertainment and catering company
with 15,000 employees covering dancing,
catering, bingo, gaming, ice-skating,
bowling alleys, discos and the main City
restaurants. It also provided catering
and entertainment facilities for Arsenal,
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur football
clubs.
The Miss World Pageant is
not a porn or nude event
As assiduous worker for charity, Eric
Morley's Miss World pageant raised more
than £30 million over the years for
various causes. He completed the
London Marathon when he was 63,
despite a damaged hamstring. He was
also a long-time supporter of the Variety
Club of Great Britain, as Barker in 1961
and Chief Barker in 1973, when he
raised over £2 million. He became
President of Variety Club International in
1978 and was also President of the
Outward Bound Trust.
'I am very pleased to have known Eric
for 30 years, right back to the Northern
Ireland days. I have always found him
to be a complete gentleman and very
professional to deal with. He was a
superb organizer, a man deeply
committed to his projects and devoted
to his family. In later years, since I
became involved with Variety Club and
came to know him personally, I was
always glad to be in his company. He'll
be very sadly missed by so many
people. My thoughts are very much with
Julia and the family.' Gloria Hunniford
Eric Morley raised money for the Outward
Bound Trust and the money to build the
Variety Club Childrens' Hospital at King's
College (he personally contributed the
first £250,000); he also raised funds for
the Wishing Well Appeal at Great
Ormond Street.
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'I have had the great pleasure of
working with Eric Morley for a number of
years, both as the presenter of 'Come
Dancing', and through my work with the
Variety Club. Eric was a one-off - a truly
colourful character in a world where so
many are a corporate grey. I loved his
irascible outbursts, his style, his charm,
his sense of humour and his 'twinkle'. I'll
miss his long letters and cheery phone
calls. But most of all Variety Club will
miss his presence as a remarkable and
selfless fundraiser. Eric genuinely made
a difference in the lives of so many
children.' Angela Rippon
'I have known Eric Morley for many
years and am shocked and saddened at
his passing. He had a love and
enthusiasm for our business and was a
great showman.' Barbara Windsor
The Miss World Pageant returned
triumphantly to international television in
1999 via Channel 5 with an estimated
global audience of two billion.
Contestants
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