Noel Edmonds builds gigantic metal statue of a kneeling knight he has named Guardian, complete with a massive sword detailing his 'attitude to life' after Lloyds bank victory
Noel Edmonds has built a giant metal statue of a knight and called it Guardian as a symbol of one mans tenacity and his ultimate victory.
Noel Edmonds has built a giant metal statue of a knight and called it Guardian as a symbol of one mans tenacity and his ultimate victory.
It was commissioned by the Deal Or No Deal star, 75, to symbolise his legal fight against Lloyds bank, which ended with him getting a reported £5million payout in 2019.
Mr Edmonds was compensated after he claimed criminal bankers at HBOS - bought by Lloyds in 2009 - destroyed his entertainment business, driving him to attempt suicide.
The Chinese-made statue sits on the site of his River Haven country estate in New Zealand, where he moved with wife Liz Davies in 2022.
Theres something about Guardian that lifts ones spirits and Im hoping that people who are feeling a bit down are lifted up, the TV star said. Hes there to support the marginalised, the victimised, the demoralised.
Noel Edmonds has built a giant metal statue of a knight and called it Guardian as a symbol of one mans tenacity and his ultimate victory
It was commissioned by the Deal Or No Deal star, 75, to symbolise his legal fight against Lloyds bank, which ended with him getting a reported £5million payout in 2019
The china statue sits on the site of his River Haven country estate in New Zealand
He was inspired by an image he saw online of a kneeling knight as he sought motivation during his battle with Lloyds.
The picture was accompanied by the caption: The devil saw me with my head down and thought hed won until I said Amen.
Those words are now embossed on a plaque at the base of the statue, which he commissioned Weta Sudios to create after he won his court case in 2019.
The sword also bears an inscription - incepto ne desistam, which translates from Latin as may I not shrink from my purpose.
I didnt want the knight to be a symbol of aggression, because I hate violence, Mr Edmonds said. I wanted Guardian to be protective.
His wife, Liz Davies, designed the shield to represent our story.
She explained in a short clip, that an oak tree at its centre how from little acorns come big things - strength, power and wisdom.
A sacred heart higher up reflects love, and the four elements - air, fire, earth and water - are also represented.
The sword bears the inscription incepto ne desistam, which translates from Latin as may I not shrink from my purpose
Mr Edmonds moved to Ngatimoti, a town on New Zealands southern island, with wife Liz Davies in 2022
There is also a second version of the statue at the couples vineyards Gratitude Garden.
The magic of Guardian is at River Haven now for everyone to experience, Mr Edmonds concluded.
The 75-year-old struck a multi-million-pound compensation deal with Lloyds in 2019 to end a two year legal battle.
Mr Edmonds said that crooks working in the Reading branch of HBOS wrecked his entertainment firm, Unique Group.
The bitter clash saw Mr Edmonds rail against Lloyds in public meetings, and even set up a website attacking its bosses.
The Deal Or No Deal star said his business was destroyed after it fell into the clutches of Mark Dobson, an HBOS employee who was jailed for a separate fraud in 2017.
Dobson and his cronies deliberately wrecked firms and spent the proceeds on prostitutes, holidays and luxury goods, it was found, although these allegations did not relate to Mr Edmonds company.
The star said that by late 2004 the bank was weighing his firm down with unmanageable charges and bleeding it dry.
He was forced to sell his 36-room home in Devon as well as his collection of classic cars in a battle to stay afloat.
In 2005, the entertainers marriage fell apart and he attempted suicide. Dobsons influence over the company continued to grow, Mr Edmonds claimed. HBOS then cancelled a loan agreement and the business went bust in 2007.
Mr Edmonds launched a legal claim against Lloyds in 2017, seeking as much as £100m in compensation, and began a public campaign to highlight Lloyds treatment of small businesses.
Mr Edmonds was compensated after he claimed criminal bankers at HBOS - bought by Lloyds in 2009 - destroyed his entertainment business
Mr Edmonds attending court in 2017 when he sued Lloyds bank for £300million
He set up a website railing against bosses, and accused the bank of total disregard for the financial regulations and the rule of law. A £10,000 reward was even offered for compromising information about senior executives.
Early efforts to resolve the dispute fell flat, with Mr Edmonds offered £3.6m by Lloyds last November. He turned down the proposal, calling the negotiations ten hours of utter nonsense.
The two sides finally came to an agreement in 2019 but neither side would disclose the amount of compensation paid.
In a joint statement, the parties said: Mr Edmonds and Lloyds Banking Group have reached an agreement in their dispute.
Lloyds Banking Group very much regrets and apologises for the distress suffered by Mr Edmonds as a result of the HBOS Reading fraud.
