AN EXHIBITION celebrating the life of Dudley’s greatest sporting icon opens in the town this week.

Dudley Archives and Local History Centre will house The Duncan Edwards 60th Anniversary Tribute Exhibition will run from Wednesday (January 10) until Friday, March 30.

Duncan was aged just 21 when he was a victim of the Munich air crash of February 6 1958 which claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players. The former Priory School pupil died in hospital 15 days later on February 21.

The exhibition is part of a number of commemorative events to mark the 60th anniversary of his death including a Duncan Edwards Tribute Dinner will be held at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley on Wednesday, February 21.

It will feature an extensive collection of photographs, ephemera, press cuttings, memorabilia and football programmes, telling the story of his Black Country roots as a schoolboy to his championship winning days with the Busby Babes of Manchester United and his appearances at every level for England.

Stourbridge resident Jim Cadman, who is organising the tribute alongside a group of volunteers, said the exhibition allows them to fulfil Duncan’s mother Sarah Ann Edwards’ wish for her son to never be forgotten in the Black Country.

The tribute has also been backed by Manchester United legend and Duncan’s close friend Sir Bobby Charlton, who survived the air crash.

Sir Bobby said: “Almost sixty years have now passed since I last saw Duncan as I left the hospital in Munich and I still think of him almost every day.

“I am very pleased to be part of this tribute in Dudley that will pay homage to the memory of Duncan Edwards - my friend, my team mate and the greatest footballer I have ever seen.”

Mr Cadman said: “In 2001, we published a book entitled ‘Duncan Edwards – The Full Report’ that was launched at a Gala Dinner in Dudley to mark what would have been the 65th birthday of Duncan Edwards.

“A key member of our ‘team’ all those years ago was Duncan’s devoted mother Sarah Ann Edwards.

“She gave us access to family photographs and memorabilia for the book and provided us with detailed information on Duncan’s early life.

“Sarah and her family were also our special guests at the Gala Dinner and at the end of the evening she said to me ‘Can you make sure that the folks in the Black Country never forget my Duncan?’

“It is our intention to keep good the promise we made to Duncan’s mother – the legend of Duncan Edwards will not be allowed to fade.”

The first 60 visitors to the exhibition will be given a free A4 colour print of artist Bob Bond’s ‘Duncan Edwards Wembley Dreams’ story board.

For more information on the tribute and for tickets to the dinner, visit the website at www.duncanedwardstribute.com