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March 31, 2009
A statue in Brighton
Contemplating what might make a suitable item for the morning of April 1st, blow me over and a true story outstrips anything I could think of.
Brighton and Hove council are considering placing a statue of the great library campaigner in a prominent place. This blog will follow the story as it develops.
Posted by Perkins at March 31, 2009 8:04 PM
Comments
I received a letter from one Mavis Riley who puports to be part of local Brighton quango the arts Commission (the paper looked like a colour photocopy), and two closely-typed pages about the Statue Factor and mentioned that, among other candidates to be the statue "Lord Bassam was keen on the equestrian style, and the sensuous classical style of the Greeks and Romans has been bravely taken up by Councillor [sic] Sue John, who I must say is being tremendously sporting. By contrast, after meeting Simon Fanshawe, the student sculptor in question decided that a surreal representation would be best".
This is what happens when libraries are run by unitary authorities. What will happen to library services in the batch of such authorities which begin their existence today, fittingly enough?
Posted by: Christopher Hawtree at April 1, 2009 9:15 AM
We all hope they will present you in a Restoration manner, (manor?) to recognise the role of Kolly Kibber in the campaign, with dalmatians around the plinth. Please tell Mavis
Posted by: Perkins at April 1, 2009 10:19 AM
The statue might be out of Brighton's league.
A novelist has suggested a grander scheme, and makes the point that library matters are high on the agenda now:
"A statue, how amazing. I think nude, in the 'sensuous classical' style (with a discreetly placed fig leaf of course), of you raising a point of order at a council meeting. Sue John (also nude) cowering adoringly at your feet. Perhaps for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square? And yes, Hove becomes more and more like Clochemerle. You are DEFINITELY having an effect."
Posted by: Christopher Hawtree at April 1, 2009 10:59 AM
A good novelist , indeed, if one is to judge by the extent of his (her?) powers of fantasy and imagination.
Posted by: perkins at April 4, 2009 6:03 PM