Stunning sculptures to adorn Thornbury for Diamond Jubilee (From Gazette Series)

Stunning sculptures to adorn Thornbury for Diamond Jubilee

9:00am Wednesday 29th February 2012 in News By Marion Sauvebois

DIAMOND Jubilee preparations are well underway in Thornbury with stunning sculptures set to adorn the town to mark the momentous event.

The idea of fashioning wooden masterpieces to celebrate the monarch’s 60th year on the throne literally 'fell' into organisers’ laps when St Mary’s Church's century-old horse chestnut tree was blown down in a storm in January.

Preserving this town landmark became the town council’s mission and less than eight weeks on, its members have secured renowned artist Andy O’Neill to turn the remaining trunk blocks into a work of art fit for a queen.

The Bristol sculptor, who makes carvings from felled logs and fallen trees with a heavy-duty chainsaw, already has an intensive body of work behind him and his pieces can be found in Bradley Stoke and Kingswood. His tallest creation is a 25ft totem pole made out of a condemned beech tree.

At a meeting of the town council Cllr Clive Parkinson said that a Jubilee bench would be commissioned for the occasion as well as some more exotic playground sculptures, including a large and a small tortoise and a snake.

"We met with Andy O’Neill a few days ago and saw his designs. We were very impressed by his work. We then went to the Mundy Playing Fields and he identified an area at the fringe that would be appropriate for sculptures and a bench."

The £4,000 project could be integrated as part of the Thornbury Arts Festival, with the artist creating his pieces in full view of the public.

Cllr Parkinson added: "He is very happy to do it and it would be nice for people to be able to see it happening. We could have a carving of the UK’s coat of arms or something similar on the bench to mark the Jubilee."

Mr O’Neill was a tree surgeon before carving himself a career as a sculptor.

The forestry lover told the Gazette: "Hopefully we will get the timber installed at the Mundy Playing Fields soon. The Diamond Jubilee is a great thing to commemorate."

He added: "Everybody will be welcome to see me working. I think it's very important, if you can, to do things in a place where people can see it develop.

"It's a nice thing for people to see the sculpture in progress. It gives them something more than if it was done somewhere else and then brought to the playing fields."