“Everything is still new,” says Walter. “That is why I asked the people committed to the statue of my father to postpone its placement and removal from the square in Breda for a year.”
“I don’t see myself happy at the moment in such a special moment, which should be a bit celebratory. Both the initiators and the municipality are fully aware of this. They respect my request to stop the project for a while.”
In fact, Walter prefers that the statue depict not only his father, but his mother as well. “Surely we shouldn’t forget my mother either,” says Walter. “I would like to see a statue of the two of them holding hands.” The headstone bearing his father’s name has now been placed.
Cartner died of cancer
Cartner died a year ago at the age of 87 from complications of bone cancer. Under his pseudonym Father Ibrahim he recorded a number of hit songs, e.g Smurfs song And Small cafe in the port.
Both songs became world famous and appeared in different languages. Cartner also wrote the song I’m in love (sha no lie)with which Sieneke represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010. In 2000, Kartner received a royal honour.
In the last few years before his death, Cartner no longer appeared in public.
“Unable to type with boxing gloves on. Freelance organizer. Avid analyst. Friendly troublemaker. Bacon junkie.”