CovSoc member Peter James tells us about an interesting sculpture. Peter writes……
If you cycle or walk along the cycle route between Kenilworth and Warwick University you will see a Portrait Bench.
Installed in 2007, it was commissioned by SUSTRANS and funded by The Big Lottery. The steel structure features three life size figures by a bench. They were chosen as people who made significant contributions to their communities. Featured are Helen Martin, John Kemp Starley and Edward Langley Fardon.
Helen Martin 1907 – 1988
In 1961 Helen who lived in Spring Lane Kenilworth set up a charitable trust to benefit the University of Warwick. The identity of the trust and it’s founder were a closely guarded secret for many years. Only when she died in 1988 was the relationship between the University and the Martin family disclosed. Her brother Jack bought a small vodka distillery in Bethel Massachusetts. He was the man responsible for creating the Smirnoff image and it’s success. It’s estimated that the trust’s contribution over the years is close to £28M in today’s money. On 22nd November 2010 a studio was opened and named The Helen Martin Studio at a ceremony in the Warwick Arts Centre.
John Kemp Starley 1854 – 1901
John was an English inventor and manufacturer who is recognised as the inventor of the modern bicycle. He left London in 1872 to join his uncle James Starley who was already established as a cycle maker in Coventry. In 1877 John started Starley & Sutton with William Sutton a cycling enthusiast. By 1883 they had adopted the brand name of Rover. In 1885 Starley produced the Rover Safety Cycle with two similar size wheels and a chain drive. Cycling magazine stated that Rover had “ set the pattern to the world “ By 1889 the company had become known as the Rover Cycle Company Ltd.
Edward Langley Fardon 1839 – 1926
Edward grew up in Stoneleigh the son of a blacksmith. He was an engineer and whitesmith who had trained with Francis Skidmore a famous metalworker and silversmith in Coventry. He created and built the ornamental entrance gates at the Rothschild mansion in Geneva and the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg ( shown in the film of The Sound of Music ) In the 1860s he became interested in cycle development. He built an iron bicycle with wire spokes and solid rubber tyres in 1869 but didn’t patent his idea. Edward is acknowledged as a pioneer of bicycle design by The Veteran Cycle Club.
