Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tonbridge Statue would make a statement....

Whatever you think about the great big white horse, the so called Nag of the South, winning sculpture design, which is to be erected near the Ebsfleet Euro Rail station it's got to be worth considering something similar to mark the gateway to our fair town of Tonbridge. Any suggestions? I go to Dorking once in a while and have noticed the recent addition of a very large cockerel scupture in the middle of the roundabout as you enter the town. I don't know what the significance is to the town but you certainly notice it as you drive in. So how about it Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council! After all there are several examples on the roundabouts near the Kings Hill council offices are there not. There's no use leaving money languishing in an Icelandic bank account any more is there, or earning 0.3% interest in the Abbey National, spend some of it tastefully on a special project. Tonbridge urgently needs something, some statement to let visitors know that they're reached their destination, they've arrived, they need go no further. But what would it be. How about a very large Frank Woolley, with bat held aloft, ready to strike! Now that would be impressive. Or how about a miniature Tonbridge Castle, or simply a large cricket ball, maybe a printing press, or an old style river barge something to symbolise the town's history. Yep, I'm still favouring the Frank Woolley idea. Where would it be placed? Well there's that patch of grass, where the Star and Garter used to blot the landscape or at the other end of town there's the roundabout next to St. Stephens church; maybe both....

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about a giant fibre glass Burberry Cap?

Anonymous said...

A bull with a rosette - this will depict the loss of the 'proper' farmers' market, local cattle shows, the loss of the countryside to posh suburban homes and it would also symbolise the flood in 1968 when lots of farm animals ended up in people's shops. As a bonus it will show townies what a cow looks like.

or secondly, a statue of 'Mrs Smith' who annoyed people and the council by by feeding the pigeons in the pa

Anonymous said...

or at least a bull!

Anonymous said...

Maybe a giant fibre glass Burberry bull ?

Anonymous said...

Something like Damian Hirst..then.

TonbridgeR said...

Some kind of sculpture would really be worthwhile in Tonbridge.
I'm not sure I am keen on any of the above but I do understand the tongue in cheek sentiment petrolstatiovillage. Maybe a piece that would celebrate the past of Tonbridge as a market town at one entry point to the High Street and at the other end near to Tonbridge School one that would celebrate achievement or the future. I would love to see a contemporary piece at St Stephens roundabout that could add character to what is a pretty bland end of town. We have Guy Portelli in the town who is such a talented sculpter who could contribute.
I really don't like the idea of a statue. But if it were a really unusual contemporary piece of perhaps Kelly Holmes flying through the air as she is running I could be swayed. But none of that upright person look stuck at the top of a mount.
Sadly I really do not like the war memorial in the town which looks out of place and a little disneyesque and I find the Botany piece really ugly even though I like the way it reflects the river and islands around Tonbridge.
Good idea and now that you are well in with the Civic Society cronies maybe you could make a difference. I am not impressed with some of the members after I overheard rather an interesting private conversation but that is knowledge I am pleased to have.
Well done Mr Books for a great idea.