The Mini Watchers. Right before I talk about the mini watchers I should first explain about The Watchers. The full sized ones that is. The Watchers, the work of Carleton Attwood, is a sculpture that resides at Toothill village centre. You can find out more about them/it here:
Now to get to the pint-sized version.
A few weeks back I got a message via this blog from the proud owner of the miniature version of this sculpture that comprises part of the West Swindon sculpture trail. You can see it in the picture below – isn’t it lovely? I’m quite envious.
My correspondent said that her statuette was a gift to her aunt from, as far as she knew, the artist. It seems that every councillor at the time.
A 2009 edition of the Link Magazine reported – find it on page 22 – edited a little here for SEO purposes.
School to Preserve History
Toothill Primary School receives a model of The Watchers, the sculpture installed at Toothill Village Centre 27 years ago.
The Mayor Steve Wakefield made an appeal in the January Link for one of the small versions presented to councillors and VIPs at the unveiling on 8 June 1982.
Sculptor Pat Elmore donated resin versions that got given away. Marion Prior from Stratton contacted us as her son had found a cement version in the garden undergrowth of his new house. Meanwhils artist Ken White uncovered the poster he designed for the opening event.
In the March Link, Pat Elmore described how she worked with the late Carlton Attwood in his last months to make the finishing touches to The Watchers. He used the features of her daughter Heidi, who now lives in Redhouse, and her husband to shape the faces out of cement fondue.
The original statue has suffered from vandalism and the weather. But the maquettes used to develop the full-scale version remain in good condition. Pat said it didn’t surprise her that the sculpture suffered. Thamesdown Council wouldn’t pay for a bronze casting. It’s a commission I would like to take on to give The Watchers a permanent presence in Toothill.”
In the meantime, Toothill Primary headteacher Martin Cowell expressed delight at having the models in the school. “They give the children a sense of the history about their community. I’m sure we’ll use them in our curriculum work in some way.’
Photo courtesy of Roger Ogle
