Family cries fowl over ‘undignified’ duck statue
Bird removed from tribute to Mallard steam train designer
FEATHERS are flying in a row over a new statue commemorating a famous Scots-born railway pioneer that will stand in London’s Kings Cross station.
Plans for a 7ft bronze statue of Sir Nigel Gresley, who designed the Flying Scotsman and Mallard steam engines, originally included a duck at his feet.
But designs for the memorial were altered after the engineer’s family suggested including the bird would invite ridicule and “detract from its dignity”.
The tribute was commissioned by the Gresley Society Trust to honour the engineer, whose Flying Scotsman was the first steam locomotive officially recorded at over 100mph in passenger service, and whose Mallard still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world, after clocking up 126mph.
It is due to be unveiled on the concourse at King’s Cross to mark the 75th anniversary of his death in April next year.
Artist Hazel Reeves had included the duck to acknowledge Sir Nigel’s interest in wildfowl and as a nod to the recordbreaking engine that helped make his name.
Now Gresley enthusiasts have launched a campaign to reinstate the bird, with an online petition attracting nearly 900 signatures.
Libby Ranzetta, who instigated the petition, grew up in the Hertfordshire village of Watton at Stone where Sir Nigel lived with his daughter’s family.
She says people are “dismayed” the duck was cut from the plans. “It makes the statue engaging and charming,” Ms Ranzetta said.
“It links Gresley to his most famous achievement, the steam traction speed record with his loco called Mallard. It sparks interest in, and curiosity about, the statue and the man.
“Very few people alive today would recognise a likeness of Gresley. Even little children will want to know why the duck is there.” But Sir Nigel’s grandson, a duck breeder based in Shropshire, has hit out at the move.
“It’s a statue for a man, not a stupid duck,” said Tim Godfrey, who grew up in the home where the engineer spent the final years of his life. “I think the Flying Scotsman was just as important a locomotive as the Mallard – are they going to have a little Scotsman with a kilt and wings sitting on his shoulder?”
However, support for the duck’s reinstatement has been “fantastic”, according to Ms Ranzetta.
“We hope that with 1,000 or more signatures, the Gresley Society will be able to go back to Sir Nigel’s grandsons and convince them the mallard is what makes the statue noticeable.”
She hopes getting the duck back in will be a “win-win” situation for everyone concerned. “People love it and it would be a great memorial to this great man.”
But Mr Godfrey said the campaigners have “no business” calling for the duck to be put back in. “They are not members of the Gresley Society. They are not contributing to the cost of the statue. What are they trying to do? Is the duck more important than the man?
“I think the statue is brilliant. It’s a wonderful idea and it’s a very good likeness of him.
“The Gresley Society, which is instigating and paying for the statue, has 12 councillors. All voted against the duck and dismissed it.
“So if the general public, who have no interest in it whatsoever and who think they know better than we do, if they don’t shut up, God knows what will happen. It’s a load of rubbish.”
One backer of the petition, Kirsty Stubbs, said: “Please reinstall the mallard on the statue of Sir Nigel Gresley. “I appreciate some family members have complained. However, I believe their complaints to be unwarranted. The mallard is a very clever symbolic indication of the name given to one of his train designs. It provokes historical thought and analysis and does not detract from the artistic statue of Sir Nigel himself.
“Thus, the statue should contain the mallard for posterity and for the education and enjoyment of future generations.”
Tim Webb, of the RSPB, said a “living” memorial might make a more fitting tribute. He suggested leaving out the metal bird and instead installing a water feature alongside Sir Nigel’s effigy as a haven for “real ducks”.
“It’s a statue for a man, not a stupid duck”
Tim Godfrey
AT FIRST glance it is a statue of a man that few people will recognise – and then your eye is caught by the duck.
Designs for a new statue to railway pioneer Sir Nigel Gresley at London’s Kings Cross station use a trick that has been common in sculptures of historical figures for centuries – include an animal.
In Washington DC, the monument to Franklin D Roosevelt features his beloved Scotch terrier Fala. On Edinburgh’s Princes Street, the statue of Walter Scott at the heart of the eponymous monument features his faithful pet deerhound, Maida. These additions often become as popular as the depictions of the people next to them.
But not everyone sees charm in this technique.
Relatives of Sir Nigel suggested the inclusion of the duck – a visual pun on Mallard, the name of one of his most famous steam engines – would invite ridicule and “detract from its dignity”.
They were successful in having it removed from the design. But now other people are backing the duck and calling for its reinstatement.
Campaigner
Libby
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Ranzetta said: “It sparks interest in, and curiosity about, the statue and the man. Very few people alive today would recognise a likeness of Gresley. Even little children will want to know why the duck is there.”
She is right. The duck is the difference between a statue and a landmark. It does what all good art is meant to do – it poses a question.
The Gresley family objected for the best-intentioned reasons. But efforts should be made to persuade them that the mallard will enhance his reputation.
Don’t ditch the duck.