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Vandals wreck Percy Thrower bust
Tuesday 6th October 2009, 3:00PM BST.
The vandalised bust of Percy Thrower lies in the flowerbeds of The Dingle, Shrewsbury.
A bronze bust of Britain’s first celebrity gardener Percy Thrower has been vandalised in Shrewsbury’s Quarry, causing thousands of pounds of damage.
The statue was damaged along with another of a mermaid and dozens of flowers were also pulled up during the spree. Margaret Thrower, daughter of Mr Thrower, said she had been left devastated after hearing news of the damage.
She said: “I just can’t understand what pleasure they get out of doing something like this, it’s such a shame.
“The Quarry has always been a prime target for vandalism but I thought now with The Dingle having new fencing and other measures that it would be more secure.
“I don’t know who would do such a thing but it’s such a shame I don’t know what pleasure they could get from it.”
Mr Thrower, who lived at The Magnolias, Bomere Heath, was known to millions of television viewers through his appearances on BBC’s Gardeners World and programmes like Blue Peter. He died in 1988.
Miss Thrower said she was upset that it was the second time the bust has been vandalised and said it showed a lack of respect.
The statue, commissioned by the Shropshire Star, was attacked and knocked over in 2005 causing damage estimated at £2,000. The bust was unveiled by Miss Thrower at that year’s Shrewsbury Flower Show.
It was created by Shrewsbury sculptress Jane Robbins – a cousin of music legend Sir Paul McCartney.
Peter Road-Night, secretary of Shropshire Horticultural Society, said Mr Thrower had been the horticultural advisor to the show committee for a number of years. He added the news was “very sad”.
Gary Farmer, operations manager at Shrewsbury Town Council, said: “We are going to take the vandalised items away to be repaired.
“It is the jewel in the crown of The Quarry and the small minority are ruining it for everyone.”
Maria Hawkaluk, spokeswoman for West Mercia Police, said: “The head of the statue was knocked off along with one of a mermaid.
“Flowers were also pulled up during the incident which happened sometime between 4pm on Saturday and 7.30am on Sunday. The damage is estimated to have cost thousands of pounds.”
Call police on 0300 3333000.
By Andrew Morris
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I’m sure that the perpetrators were only trying to express themselves.
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Feckless idiots.
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Poor Post Peasbody.
Maybe when you are gone and youre grave is vandalised we can all say “I’m sure that the perpetrators were only trying to express themselves”
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Moronic scum, the lot of them. It would be very funny if something heavy ran over these oxygen thieves and put them out of our misery.
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Why are you lot always so quick to criticise? I’m sure this would never have happened if these poor kids had decent youth facilities (OK, I agree with Colin in post 4!!).
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Sadly it demonstrates the mentality of many these days. Although I was suprised to read that this happened nearer to Shrewsbury, we are all led to believe that only Telford has layabouts and vandals…does this mean that perhaps Shrews have a few of their own? Can’t be – they must have travelled there especially just for the trip.
@ Mr I Diot, I’m sure Mr Peasbody was actually being sarcastic there.
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“Maybe when you are gone and your grave is vandalised” not exactly true is it . This is not a grave site. Never the less vandals should be punished but keep it in perspective please.
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The Police confiscated their alcahol, and the morons have wreked the Dingle
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It might as well be a grave now the dingle, which used to be a lovely place for all ages has been turned into a memorial garden.
If we wanted a cemetary in the middle of Quarry Park we would have asked for one.
In the 1970s there was a lovely little thatched house put there for children to play in and around the winding paths on the terraces.
When I went there with a school class a few years ago the children were not allowed to run around.
Children are not welcome, the sixth formers are not welcome only those who are just about this side of having a bench dedicated to them are allowed to sit in there to ponder whether their name will be on one of those golden plaques to live on into posterity.
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Lack of decent security and little chance of being caught made this a soft target for cowards, which says much about the personalities of those involved. A lack of facilities for these “poor kids” is no excuse for antisocial behaviour. They chose to destroy public property of their own accord (nobody forced them). This was wrong, they knew it was wrong and undoubtedly enjoyed doing it. No amount of facilities would stop this kind of thing happening, there will always be a hard core of individuals that do not respond to help, we either live with it do something about it, however there is no easy answer, so unless we can change human nature, and unless the government gets tough (and we all know that will never happen) we are forced to live with it.
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Eva. The Dingle is open to anybody but believe it or believe it not we all don’t want to be surrounded by screaming, out of control kids. they have a playground where they can run around screaming to their little hearts content. but please leave those who want a little peace and quiet to eat out lunchtime butties somewhere to go. and incidentally I wont be ready for my plaque for quite a few years yet.
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Well said David Day (No. 11). The kids have a perfectly good playground to play in. We don’t need them screaming around the Dingle. If us 50 somethings went on their swings we would soon be thrown out.
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