THE 13 new owners of one of Derby's most "iconic" statues are thrilled with their purchase.
The group of friends, from Allestree, said they were also pleased that the money used to buy the Zanzibar nightclub sultan statue was going towards the Derby Telegraph's minibus appeal.
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The new owners of the Zanzibar sultan include, from left, James Barker, 28, Leon Birch, 30, Marc O’Dwyer, 26, Andy Barker, 28, Niall O’Dwyer, 23, Steve Nicholson, 28, David York, 22, and Callum Gurney, 23.
The bronze-effect statue stood on top of the popular Derby nightclub for 15 years and has been sold by restaurant chain Cosmo, which is converting the former cinema into a restaurant, opening on May 28.
It was sold on auction website ebay for £420 to David York, 22, Callum Gurney, 23, Niall O'Dwyer, 23, Rob Smith, 29, Leon Birch, 30, Steve Nicholson, 28, Marc O'Dwyer, 26, Sean Clemens, 25, Ben Gibson, 28, James Barker, 28, Andy Barker, 28, James Windsor, 28 and Rob Hammond, 28.
Mr York said: "It was Steve's idea to buy it. And before we'd all decided as a group to go ahead with it I'd put a bid on it!
"We just had to have him at any price."
The group said they would like to put the statue on the roof of their local pub in Allestree – The Woodlands.
They have also set up an account for the statue on social networking site Twitter so the public can find out more about what happens to it.
Cosmo promised to donate the proceeds from the sale of the statue to the Telegraph's campaign to buy a minibus, and Callum Gurney said he was happy the money was going to a good cause.
The Derby Telegraph is aiming to raise £30,000 to buy a new minibus for the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre – which takes disadvantaged children on seaside breaks.
He said: "It's great to support any charity or campaign that gives to children. It's very worthwhile. It also made it easier to hand over the money."
And Mr York said: "Our families think we're crazy for buying it but I think they are really glad the money is going to a good cause. It's really good of Cosmo to agree to donate to the campaign."
James Windsor said the group was hoping to get a custom-made Rams shirt made for the sultan as the 13 are all fans of Derby County.
He said: "We're hoping to speak to Derby County about getting the shirt made."
Follow news of the sultan on twitter.com and search for @derbysultan.
Read more: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/13-new-owners-Zanzibar-statue/story-18933570-detail/story.html#ixzz2SwkfRH8h
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