The return of TRIGGER!

Popular horse sculpture removed for roadworks is about to ride back into town

A MUCH-LOVED work of art which stood proudly on a Coventry roundabout is set to make a comeback.

The cast iron sculpture of a black horse rearing on its hind legs was taken away from the island at Greyfriars Green when work began on reconfiguring the roads around Friargate in 2014.

Known as Trigger, the sculpture – made by Coventry University student Simon Evans in the 1980s using scrap materials – has since been restored and is now set to make his comeback.

Cllr Jayne Innes, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for public services, said: “It is really exciting that we will have Trigger back on full display soon.

“He used to be on the roundabout which made way for the bridge deck.

“The work around that area has changed the way people come into the city, but now we will be restoring Trigger near to his original home.

“One of the good things about it being on Greyfriars Green is that people are going to be able to walk up to Trigger, which people have always wanted to do.

“It is going to be a much better location.”

There has been no definitive date set for the unveiling – or what exactly is going to be involved in the event – but it is going to be early February.

Two years ago, Cllr Rachel Lancaster, former cabinet member for public services, said Trigger would stay indoors due to his poor state of repair.

But Cllr Innes told us that the restoration has gone well, and Trigger - real name Bucephalus – is looking as good as new and will be able to go back into the outdoors for people to enjoy.

She added: “It is a permanent thing now, and he should be okay now for the future.

“Nothing lasts forever, but we hope to get decades out of him.

“When we took him down, we realised he needed a lot of work, but now he is as good as new.

“People will be able to touch him, and take pictures with him.

“We just ask they don’t climb on him – although considering his size, it could be quite difficult anyway.”