Swindon & Wiltshire News
Prince Edward unveils bronze statue for Platinum Jubilee
A Jubilee bronze statue of the Queen cast by Talos Art Foundry, near Salisbury, was unveiled by Prince Edward at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst on Friday.
The full-size sculpture of Queen Elizabeth riding Burmese, her favourite mare, took artist Caroline Wallace a year to sculpt and nine months for the foundry to painstakingly cast.
The foundry staff and artist were in attendance at the ceremony, alongside Prince Edward representing his mother, the head of the British army General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, and the statue’s patron, prince of Bahrain Sheikh Nasser.
Sculpted in clay by Caroline and cast using the lost wax method by Talos Art Foundry, the statue was modelled on Her Majesty at Trooping the Colour in 1984 wearing the Grenadier Guards uniform, and the last time she rode Burmese.
Commissioned by Lt Col Rich Bredin, Sandhurst’s staff quartermaster, as an academy celebration of the Queen’s 70 year reign, the statue was financed by King of Bahrain Sheikh Hammad and his son and Sandhurst alumni, Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Sheikh Nasser is an avid sportsman who started endurance horse racing in his country, where he serves as the commander of the royal guard.
“I want to congratulate the sculptor and the foundry, I’m sure it’s been every bit as challenging a project as you can imagine,” said Prince Edward just before the statue was uncovered.
“Rich Bredin’s tireless work along with the artistry and skill of Caroline Wallace, the sculptor, and the expertise of Talos Foundry, have brought this project from concept to reality,” said Maj Gen Duncan Capps, commander of Sandhurst.
The sculpture was transported from Talos Art Foundry, on the Salisbury / Hampshire border, and carefully lowered into place by Chippenham-based firm FG Bond & Son on its plinth of concrete clad in Yorkshire Limestone.
This is not the first royal sculpture for Caroline Wallace – she sculpted the late Queen Mother’s racehorses Special Cargo and Double Trigger and a mounted Prince William as colonel of the Irish Guards.
The Queen also privately owns some of Caroline’s bronzes.
“It wouldn’t have happened without Team Talos. Everyone put in a huge amount of effort to get it perfect.” said William Nunneley, Caroline’s husband.
Talos Art Foundry casts bronze sculptures and statues for professional and amateur artists for private and public commissions, using the ancient lost wax technique.
“Usually a lorry turns up and takes away these large sculptures which the team have often worked on for months, and that’s it,” said Richard Atkinson-Willes, Talos Art Foundry owner.
“It really meant a lot to them to see the fruit of their considerable labour acknowledged and admired in such a splendid setting, and for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee too.
“The bronze looked absolutely magnificent,” said Richard Atkinson-Willes, Talos Art Foundry.
Richard also owns Talos Art Gallery, near Calne, where he exhibits the work of sculptors who use his foundry to cast their bronzes.
The latest exhibition, Natural Elements, runs until August 7. For more information visit https://talosartgallery.co.uk/naturalelements/
