Edith Cavell.; Source: Library
Poll: Artwork in Norwich set to honour three heroes - but who would you choose?
Richard Wheeler
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
8:49 AM
Three heroes of Norwich are to be “immortalised” as life-sized metal figures.
Norwich City Council has approved plans for a new piece of public artwork at the junction of Koblenz Avenue and Station Approach, near the train station and facing the Riverside complex.
School pupils were asked to put forward suggestions of people who have played an important role in the city.
Their ideas included: naval hero Lord Admiral Nelson; TV cook and joint Norwich City majority shareholder Delia Smith; Robert Kett, leader of the 16th century Kett’s Rebellion; legendary Norfolk lifeboatman Henry Blogg; Clive Dunn, best known for playing Lance Corporal Jones in Dad’s Army, filmed in Thetford; and Jeremiah Colman, founder of Colman’s Mustard.
Others included the Queen, Norwich City’s Grant Holt and Suffolk singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.
American music star Bruno Mars also received a nomination, although his contribution to city life remains unclear.
The council has to install a portrait bench, which includes the artwork of the three figures, as part of the conditions for the £311,000 of Lottery cash it received to improve cycle links.
This has included a new path for pedestrians and cyclists at Mousehold Heath.
Jeff Jordan, from the Norwich Cycling Campaign, said: “It’s a huge input of money to improve the cycling facilities in Norwich and to make sure they connect up. It’s good to have local figures celebrated.”
Pupils from the three schools along the various cycle route changes – Open Academy, Sewell Park College and Angel Road Junior School – were asked to nominate suggestions for the portrait bench.
Council plans for the artwork stated: “Norwich recently received Lottery funding from Sustrans’ Connect 2 programme in order to construct a number of cycle projects in the city. A condition of funding is installation of a portrait bench, comprising a bench and a piece of public art depicting three individuals.
“The 2D life-size figures will immortalise three local people, heroes, characters or eminent figures.”
The documents added: “The figures are to be cut from Corten sheet steel, which weathers naturally over time and requires minimal maintenance.
“This is a highly durable material that will withstand the weather and deter acts of vandalism – graffiti artists dislike the broken steel surface of the figures.” Other towns and cities have also installed the same style of benches, including Glasgow. Comedian Billy Connolly and singer Lulu were among the Scottish city’s nominees. Norwich City Council hopes to reveal the three winning choices either next month or in March. No objections were lodged during the consultation on the bench plans.
Which Norwich hero would you like to see immortalised? Log on to www.edp24.co.uk to vote.
richard.wheeler@archant.co.uk
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26 comments
Really can not see how many of them have links to Norwich at all. And no chance to vote for the puppet man.
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CllrJohnCowan
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Really can not see how many of them have links to Norwich at all. And no chance to vote for the puppet man. http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiNorwich_Puppet_Man
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CllrJohnCowan
Saturday, February 9, 2013
If it's Delia, the statue should represent the 'let's be 'avin you' pose with a microphone in one hand and a drink in the other.
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blue tractor
Thursday, February 7, 2013
If it's Delia it would have to be the 'let's be 'avin you pose with a microphone in one hand and a gin and tonic in the other.
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blue tractor
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Should be Delia. She has put Norwich on the Map.
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acenditcantu
Thursday, February 7, 2013
I should give my vote for Admiral Lord Nelson -- or Edith Cavell .. people of note and substance, rather than entertainers.
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Patrick
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Ed Sheeran its got to be a joke. Nothing to do with Norwich or Norfolk. I would like to see Lord Nelson, Edith Cavell, and Elizabeth Fry
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The Bloater
Thursday, February 7, 2013
George Brodie (Brody in some records) - lost his life while saving others in the Norwich 1912 floods.
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foxyletigre
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
>julygirl: thank you for pointing out the correct way to refer to Lord Nelson. Completely agree about how can some of those others be listed .. >johnnyReggae: I agree that Elizabeth Fry should be on the list ... and possibly Sarah-Ann Glover ? Are the others 'heroes'?
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Patrick
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Jeremiah Colman is right deserving of artistic immortalization in some-form, but Trowse or Carrow would be more suitable zones than the location earmarked, which (as far as I can fathom) has little-or-no connection with any of the candidates. Indeed, most of them are Norfolk figures, if that... GH may be deserving of a sculpter's attention one day, but for the time-being remains at the back of a long-queue of other City names, Gunny has been mentioned, I'd go for Watling, plus you'd want 'em near the ground... Be nice to see George Borrow one day in bronze, too.
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Rogers of Norwich
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
If this is a list from school children, what are they teaching them today? It's a case of ,to have the Art work do it or lose it . It can only be Edith Cavell, Lord Nelson and Elizabeth Fry. The Colmans and Gurneys were big players in the City also in the past.
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Rorping
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Ed Sheeran may be good, but he is a Suffolk boy, and hardly a hero!
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julygirl
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Derrick Murphy got struck of the list then!
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Sherbert
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
If the idea is to improve cycleways then I am all for it. Anything to get cyclists off the road and onto designated paths would be good for all concerned - the bunch of idiots cycling on the B1172 at Hethersett yesterday afternoon please take note! I would go for Mr Pastry, Grant Holt taking a dive and Marigold.
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blue tractor
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Ok if you don't know who Ed Sheeran is then that is really sad! He is an AMAZING singer and songwriter...you should check him out
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savysavrocks
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Is it premature to suggest Chloe Smith?
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Mr Cameron Isaliar
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Who is Ed Sheehan?
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oldowl
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Ed Sheeran is that a joke? Born in Yorkshire raised in Suffolk. Yeah sounds like a true Norwich hero to me. That list is embarrassing. Quite simply Lord Nelson, Edith Cavell and Robert Kett.
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cm85
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
No mention of Levi McCarthy....... gutted!
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Lord Horn
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Hmm, does anyone truly care ? In most cases obscure, vague, half forgotten or just plain pointless. Save the money, do something more worthwhile with it, or something interesting art wise if you really must have a piece of art plonked on the pavement.
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Frankly FS
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
ed sheeran? really? Edith Louisa Cavell was a British nurse and patriot. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from all sides without distinction and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested. She was subsequently court-martialled, found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was shot by a German firing squad. Her execution received worldwide condemnation and extensive press coverage.
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siouxie twig
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Sorry, but the Higdons were at Burston school, which is quite a long way away from Norwich. Nelson should be correctly listed as 'Admiral Lord Nelson' please. How half the list can be considered as 'heroes' is completely beyond me - heroism involves personal bravery or sacrifice, not acting or being paid to play a game!
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julygirl
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Much as I admire Henry Blogg I don't see what he has to do with Norwich. He was a Cromer man. Ed Sheeran, Grant Holt, Clive Dunn? Where is Elizabeth Fry?
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Johhny Reggae
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Stephen Fry
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Simon Woolston
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
No mention of Thomas Paine or the Higdon's who were the teachers at Bursford school.
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el84
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Replace The Queen with Bernard Matthews.Grant Holt? He would leave the city tomorrow and never look back if he got a big money offer.Should be Bryan Gunn.And where is the Puppet Man on the list? A portrait bench actually sounds rather nice,but the council would be cleaning graffiti off of it every other week.It would just be somewhere else for the disaffected yoof to leave their feral markings.
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Nexus_6
Tuesday, February 5, 2013