Public call for work of art to come home

Amid the call for a petition to bring the valuable life size sculpture home to Leigh an irate Leighite has written to Wigan Council Leader Lord Smith, describing the disposal of the important work of art as "tragic".

Another attacked the "kicking of the nostalgic work into touch" as absolutely contemptible.

As a result of the uproar Leigh Town Centre Management Group chairman Cllr Brian Jarvis, pictured, has promised to investigate the possibility of the pony being housed in Leigh Library foyer

Quietly removed

Three weeks ago the pony, sculpted in 1989 by Dutch artist Marjan Wouda and the children of Leigh CE Junior School, was quietly removed from Leigh market hall and transported to a new home at the Red Rose Steam Society mining museum at Astley Green.

But the move has caused an outcry. Now school head Brian Fawcett, and the people of Leigh, want the statue -- made by the children of Leigh for the town -- put back on public show.

Reader Bryan Edmondson asked: "When will Wigan Council realise they have an art work of considerable quality, and substantial fiscal value, on their hands and stop trying to shunt it around the authority as surplus to requirements?

"This sculpture was created as a monument to those who worked in the coal industry in Leigh. The Dutch artist who conceived and carried out the project has gone on to make public sculptures in other parts of the country and is highly regarded in her field.

"Meanwhile, back in Leigh, the pit pony she made with, and for the people of the town, has been given away because the council do not know what to do with it.

"I have the greatest respect for the Red Rose Steam Society and their invaluable work at Astley Green, but the sculpture would be wasted as an illustration of a pit pony in a display about life under ground.

"It is a work of art and as such goes beyond mere illustration and stimulates the feelings and imagination of those who engage with it.

"It makes connections with countless local people who were in some way involved in the mining industry and it stands as a symbol of suffering and hardship which underpinned the prosperity of Leigh's past. But, for this to happen, it needs to be properly displayed in a space of its own.

"The people of Leigh who have enjoyed it, or have been involved in its making, deserve better than this. To give it away without even informing the artist or the school seems insensitive in the extreme.

"But to dispose of an important cultural asset because no-one has the imagination to find it a proper home is just tragic."

Mrs Eileen Higginbottom, of Angus Avenue, Leigh, called for a petition, saying: "The pony is a brilliant piece of work, a great reminder of our past times. Shame on Wigan Metro for allowing it to be moved. That beautiful pit pony is Leigh and all we stand for, the pits and mills made Leigh what it is today. Put our pony back in the mall for all to see."

Terrible cruelty

Tom Jasper, of Bolton Road, Atherton, added: "The employment of these ponies underground was and always will be remembered as a terrible cruelty to such gentle animals.

"I think people would prefer to see this pitiful but lovely reminder out in the open that they were denied for so much of their lives.

"The least fitting place for it is the mining museum, the Auschwitz of the time for these animals.

"I would gladly contribute towards having it removed from the museum to a freedom and daylight situation away from the dark hell in which they served their time in such misery.

"For Wigan Council to kick this fine, nostalgic work into touch is absolutely contemptible and puts to shame this so called labour hierarchy."

The public is invited to write to Kay Bardgett, assistant director of Leisure at Leigh Town Hall with any suggestions where the pony could be placed on public display.