Chester becomes the latest city to host Shropshire's knife angel

The sculpture is to stand outside Chester Cathedral during November as part of the national anti-violence tour being co-ordinated by the British Ironwork Centre.

It has already got bookings into 2020 and 2021.

The sculpture was created by Alfie Bradley with tens of thousands of knives handed into or confiscated by police forces across the UK. It was part of the Ironwork Centre's Save a Life, Surrender your knife campaign which has seen hundreds of knife bins installed in towns, cities and even airports nationwide.

Clive Knowles, chairman of the Oswestry based, Ironwork Centre, said he recently welcomed Jane Brooke, Canon Missioner and Vice Dean of Chester Cathedral and Sue Petranca, Cathedral Exhibitions Manager, to the tourist attraction.

He said he cathedral team visited the Angel whilst it was being hosted by Liverpool, outside the Anglian Cathedral in November and December 2018.

"During its time in Liverpool the sculpture had 250,000 visitors," Mr Knowles said.

"Jane was so moved, she contacted the British Ironworks, offering Chester’s Cathedral as host, wanting to ensure Cheshire were able to add their shoulder to the national anti violence effort. We are delighted that the angel will visit the cathedral in November."

The west gate of the Cathedral, is being ear marked as the preferred location, because of its prominence.

Mr Knowles is asking every town or city hosting the Angel to organise 28 days of Youth Engagement while it is there.

Partnerships with community groups are organised including the police and the council.

"Cathedrals and Churches have really embraced the Angel’s effort and meaning, with Cathedrals in particular up and down the UK, wishing to become hosts.

"The National Anti Violence Tour is booking up faster than we’d ever have expected and is now running to the end of 2021. We are still keen to here from cities or places of significance. This monument was created by a consolidated national effort involving all the UK’s police forces. We would want every city possible included in this drive to reduce aggressive and violent behaviour in Britain."