Hayesfield Girls’ School has welcomed back famous former pupil Amy Williams MBE – in the shape of a bronze sculpture of the Olympic athlete on loan from the Council.
Photo courtesy of Jane Callan.
The work of art was created by local sculptor Alan Dun as part of the Art at the Edge programme ‘Sculpture and Sport: A Celebration for 2012’. This was supported by The Roper Family Charitable Trust, several local businesses, and Bath & North East Somerset Council which purchased the piece to mark the Olympics year.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “This has been a great year – with the Art at the Edge project alongside the London 2012 Olympic Games – and we have all been proud to be associated with local athlete Amy Williams. Bath & North East Somerset Council is very pleased to loan this lovely work of art – which was previously on display at the Victoria Art Gallery – to Hayesfield Girls’ School.”
The sculpture of Amy Williams MBE, who won a Gold medal in the Skeleton Bob event at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, has pride of place in the school’s new West Wing building.
Erica Draisey, Headteacher of Hayesfield, said: “Our sports centre is named after Amy Williams and we are thrilled to have this fantastic sculpture of her on loan from Bath & North East Somerset Council.”
Art at the Edge worked with over a hundred artists to create two exhibitions and a sculpture trail around Bath which were enjoyed by over 15,000 visitors and residents during the summer.
Justin Braithwaite, Director of Art at the Edge, said: “Amy’s sculpture was a key part of our exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery and has already been much admired for the way it captures both her grace and speed. Bath is fortunate to have a sculptor with such evident talent living and working just over the hill in Limpley Stoke.”
The sculptor Alan Dun said: “My intention was to create a portrait sculpture of Amy which was an evocation of her speed, grace and precision on the Skeleton Bob run. I was not concerned with the equipment and technicalities of the sport but wished to sculpt a lasting image of Amy. Amy herself has said that the sculpture looks like it feels when she first launches into the descent.”
