The crowds at the Quantum Leap handover
The animal kingdom has given the seal of approval to a piece of public art created to celebrate the life of the father of evolution.
A cheeky mink gatecrashed a ceremony held to mark the official handover of Shrewsbury’s Quantum Leap – built to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
The curious critter made a trip down the River Severn this afternoon to take a closer look at the sculpture.
The visiting mink looks on
The animal swam up to the site at Mardol Quay Gardens before hauling itself onto the riverbank for a peek at the art work.
Civic dignitaries, designers and residents who had gathered at the site for the official handover of the sculpture to Shropshire Council watched on as the mink appeared happy to pose for photographs before swimming away.
The ceremony marked a year of celebrations held in the town to celebrate the life of Darwin, who was born in The Mount.
Jon King, Shropshire Council’s Darwin200 officer, said of the sculpture: “I’m absolutely delighted it’s being handed over.
“I can’t wait for people to come down here and get underneath it and see for themselves what a fantastic piece of work it is.”
See our photo gallery from the Quantum Leap ceremony here
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14 Comments
The mink came to pee up the side of it, but the so called important people handing it over spoilt his fun….after all the mink wanted to get in first before the humans use it as a toilet and graffiti tool, oh well i suppose the tax payers money had to be wasted on something…
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I count 23 people in the photograph, is that really a crowd?
any other newspaper might have reported a dismal paltry turnout for the official handover, not the Star, 23 is a Crowd.
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Arriving at the riverbank all beady eyed, gazing up confused wondering what its all about before sliding away again disinterestedly.
And then a mink turns up.
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Crowd? .. What crowd? It’s a pity that the floods didn’t carry this ugly heap of concrete away.
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RBB, its 24 – you forgot the photographer!
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First. They should have shot the Mink. What a serious threat they are to our wildlife.
Second.Quantum Leap is quite unique and there is not anything like in the country.
Darwin was a one off and so is this.
Wait and see what an attraction this will be to the many visitors to our town.
Given 12 months the people of the town will have forgotton all the problems that the builders had.
Now let’s get on and build that incinerator and stop filling up our land with rubbish, make electricity and employ people.
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Well I like it a lot! (and a lot more than I like the mink – pity it wasn’t an otter!)
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Where’s the usual protest. Not only is the mink of a dark complexion it’s also not indigenous. Surely it’s appearance is further proof we’re being swamped. I think we ought to blame the EU!
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Did he slink off that mink in order to have a think,then with a knowing wink and quick blink take a quantum leap into the river Severn and …sink?
One thing that is certain, that sculpture sure has caused a mighty stink:)
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Very good Eva, may I make my humble effort in a friendly rivalry sort of way?
There once was an mink called Jim
Who thought the‘Leap’ was for him
He took one look at the crowd
Who clapped very loud
And decided to go for a swim.
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There once was a mink called Jane
Who thought the ‘Leap’ was insane
She took one look at the crowd
Who clapped very loud
The applause is for me it is very plain
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‘I can’t wait for people to come down here and get underneath it’ says John King
They’d have had to snorkel last week!
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Eva, oh what an excellent repartee!
Shame Huw hasn’t done one, so I’ve done one on his behalf. I hope he likes it.
There once was a mink called Jaggers
Who though Global Warming was crackers
He said “you should be here,
The science is clear,
The water is freezing my poor little furry paws.
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Very wacky Lucy or should I say Wackers:0
Over to you Huw you should have the knack by now!
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