Black Sheep Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 RMweb whip round for a duck statue? That or he should be on roller skates, one skate being Mallard, one being Scotsman... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kylestrome Posted April 12, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 12, 2015 Ask members of the public to name two famous locomotives and they will probably answer Flying Scotsman and Mallard. Ask them who designed said locomotives and I imagine most will not know. Maybe he should get a kilt instead? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Maybe he should get a kilt instead? ...or just have a statue of Alex Salmond next to it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom J Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 One man who brought London and Edinburgh closer together, and one who wants to do the reverse! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthesod4479 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 To remove any doubt on how Tim Godfrey ( Gresleys Grandson) thinks of 'us' the general public Take a look at this interview in the Scotsman http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/design-dispute-over-memorial-to-scots-rail-pioneer-1-3760710 It needs no comment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthesod4479 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Jonathan Irrespective of your personal views on the duck, How do you feel about the way the committee and Godfrey have conducted themselves in this episode, esp in what could be classed as bringing the name of the Society intro disrepute? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted July 16, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 16, 2015 ...other than he is a right... errr... pompous posterior... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Yay! There will be a duck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 Bob, I'm not a member of the Society, my father is, so I have rather let the whole sorry matter pass me by. I do feel entitled to have a view as a contributor to the project and had a short correspondence with Andrew Dow after he kindly wrote to thank me for my contribution. I was never in favour of the duck, but felt (and still feel) that a statue is long overdue and should be supported. From what I have picked up in passing about the controversy which seems to have blown up, the phrase 'out of all proportion' could have been made for it. I don't know Gresley's grandsons but the fact that every group connected with any of his works wheels them out almost every time there's any sort of event effectively grants them a measure of authority to comment on his 'legacy' in the broadest sense and they've done so on this occasion. How that has been done, what contact there was before and after the project was devised and announced and the conduct of both parties since is really a matter for those directly concerned. From the distant outsider's viewpoint it's all very unseemly and it's to be hoped it doesn't damage any or all of the groups collectively working to commemorate and preserve Gresley's achievements. Ivan, Where did you read there will be a duck? Last news here shows no evidence of one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted July 17, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 17, 2015 I like the comment he makes “They are not members of the Gresley Society. They are not contributing to the cost of the statue. I wonder if the majority of the society voted to keep the duck whether he would accept the decision. The other quote is The Gresley Society, which is instigating and paying for the statue, has 12 councillors. All voted against the duck and dismissed it . I wonder why he didn't mention that those who had come up with the design had resigned. I said on here before that taking the duck off makes it a plain statue of a man that 99% who pass through Kings Cross would never had heard of, keeping it invites interest and gives it some personality. I personally think the decision has made the society look a bit silly, they may well lose existing members and put off possible future ones. I do hope this is not a lesson in how to push a society into a fast terminal decline. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 To remove any doubt on how Tim Godfrey ( Gresleys Grandson) thinks of 'us' the general public Take a look at this interview in the Scotsman http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/design-dispute-over-memorial-to-scots-rail-pioneer-1-3760710 It needs no comment Is it just me or is much of that article repeated? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Anyone for contributions to a bulk buy of yellow plastic bath ducks? Then we could share them out and every time one of us passes through KX, superglue it to the base (assuming someone has removed the previous one). Guerilla Duck Army? Edit - previous, not precious as I wrote first time! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 17, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2015 I asked SWMBO (who knows nothing about trains, but has heard of Mallard) about this statue and when I told her the reasoning for a duck being put at his feet she "got" the point of it. She thought the family's stance was just silly! Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 17, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 17, 2015 If a everybody at RMWeb put a pound into the hat we could commission a big bronze mallard duck with HNG riding on it's back. The duck would have a leg ring with 4468 on it. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 I am not sure it will matter soon; if it is made of bronze it will disappear one night in the near future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share Posted July 17, 2015 John Betjeman seems to have survived up to now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decauville1126 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Why not bring Mallard down from York, leave it facing south against the buffers at Kings Cross, position the statue alongside with a board promoting the NRM. Achieves many aims in one go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenceb Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Given how the family have neglected S N G's grave over the years their remarks about dignity ring somewhat hollow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfsboy Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Odd really ,to most people he doesnt have a legacy and never will .Now ducks is different ...all ducks have a legacy .:-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted October 14, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 14, 2015 This is going to be discussed on Jeremy Vine Radio 2 today, Wednesday 14th October. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted October 14, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 14, 2015 The usual J Vine standard. Bricklayer is here and I asked his opinion, he had heard of HNG but could not remember why, he listened to the "debate" and said the Gresley Society need to rethink the decision. Not exactly an accurate poll result but one persons opinion who has no vested interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 This could end up as London's answer to Glasgow's statue of the Duke Of Wellington, which despite "authority" continually removing the cone, it is replaced by popular demand. Cue plastic ducks being left at the foot of the statue of Gresley!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 ....what a load of b#####ks!!.......make the base of the statue suitable to fit the wretched duck on a removable base and then just remove the duck for 6 months of the year before refitting the darn thing for the next 6 and so on. Is it really so difficult? Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
K14 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 ....what a load of b#####ks!!.......make the base of the statue suitable to fit the wretched duck on a removable base and then just remove the duck for 6 months of the year before refitting the darn thing for the next 6 and so on. Is it really so difficult? Dave Doesn't even need that. If the mock-up is accurate as regards the statue's intended position, just put a tiled mural behind it depicting a a flight of ducks & 4468 at full chat. P. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted October 14, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 14, 2015 Doesn't even need that. If the mock-up is accurate as regards the statue's intended position, just put a tiled mural behind it depicting a a flight of ducks & 4468 at full chat. P. They would have to keep it off the wall as they aren't allowed to drill into the Grade 1 listed structure, even the accompanying small plaque has to be fitted into the mortar! Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.