TAMINES: Lambil and his Blue Tunics in the spotlight at the roundabout

Sergeant Chesterfield and Corporal Blutch put their suitcases on the Sainte-Eugénie roundabout in Tamines (Sambreville). A statue bearing the image of the two emblematic characters from the Éditions Dupuis comic strip "Les Tuniques Bleues" was inaugurated on Thursday

Made by sculptor and craftsman Paul Becker, the statue is made of resin.

"The goal is both to cling to the journey of statues of comics that exists on Charleroi, but also to pay homage to his Sambrevillois cartoonist, Willy Lambillote, alias Lambil" explains Bourgmestre Jean-Charles Luperto.

At the age of 82, Lambil collaborated with Éditions Dupuis at the age of 16. Rather impressed to see his characters in 3D, he said he was delighted with the result. "It's pretty odd to see them like that, but the rendering is very faithful and I'm very happy" he commented.

It is in 1972 that Lambil, following the premature death of Louis Salvérius becomes the draftsman of the series of Tuniques Bleues, scripted by Raoul Cauvin.

By his side, soon on a nearby roundabout, his colleague and friend Jacques Sandron will be honored through his series "Godaille and Godbade".

This should be inaugurated during 2020, according to the mayor.

The installation of the Blue Tunics statue represents a budget of 25,000 euros subsidized at 80% by the region for the development of a roundabout linked to a site of economic activity and 20% by the Economic Office of the Province (BEP).