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Widow keeps late husband's giant 8ft cock bush alive after his death

A widow has paid tribute to her late husband by keeping his giant cock-shaped bush alive after his death.

Joan Granahan, 77, from Erdington, Birmingham, makes sure the 8ft green cockerel in her front garden continues to thrive.

She made it her personal mission to keep the bird bush in good shape after her husband Tom died five years ago.

Joan Granahan shows off the huge cockerel in her garden (Picture: Caters)
Joan Granahan shows off the huge cockerel in her garden (Picture: Caters)

The bush has been in front of their home since 2002 and Tom spent ten years trimming it until he lost his battle with cancer.

Mrs Granahan enlists the help of a professional gardener to tend to the cockerel, although her son Michael, who lives in Ireland, takes over pruning duties when he visits.

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‘Tom used to be a contractor, but when he retired he decided to take on a new hobby,’ she said.

‘It started out by being an overgrown conifer tree but he slowly started to change that because it was too big.

The bush has been outside her home for 15 years (Picture: Caters)
The bush has been outside her home for 15 years (Picture: Caters)

‘I would always ask him what he was doing but he’d say, “You get in and do your job, and I’ll do mine,” so I didn’t know until it was complete.

‘As soon as I saw it I couldn’t believe how clever his creation was. He was very proud of the cockerel deep down, but he would never show it.

‘I think he got the idea to create a cockerel because he was a farmer’s son and always grew up around birds.

Mrs Granahan's late husband Tom tended to the bush bird for ten years before his death (Picture: Caters)
Mrs Granahan’s late husband Tom tended to the bush bird for ten years before his death (Picture: Caters)

‘I knew when Tom passed away that I’d have to carry on looking after it for Tom, but I’m too old.

‘Now, when my son comes from Ireland he makes sure he clips it, but I’ve got someone who comes around and keeps on top of it.’