Ten magnificent metal sculptures made their home in the Byron House playground for five days and kept watch as the children played happily amongst these splendid beasts. Local artist Mr Tom Hiscocks sculpted these heraldic statues as representations of the original ‘Queen’s Beasts’, sculptures created to flank Queen Elizabeth II´s entrance into Westminster Abbey for her coronation on June 2nd, 1953. These statues symbolise the genealogy of the bloodlines from the most important of her ancestors. Mr Hiscocks’ statues have visited ŷ’s as part of a UK tour to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The sculptures are made entirely of recycled metal and, on closer inspection it was possible to spot the various brand name drinks can which were used to craft the ‘skin’ of the beasts. The children were fascinated to discover that old hub caps, chain mail and even a fire extinguisher were sourced from scrap yards to create each animal and present each one in a contemporary style. Mr Hiscocks explained to the children that “The Queen’s Beasts” support a drinks industry initiative to encourage the recycling and re-use of drink cans, called “Every Can Counts”.
Mr Hiscocks gave a series of art workshops to the Kindergarten to Form Two year groups based around his sculptures during which the children learned that each beast had a distinctive character. Anecdotes such as “The Red Dragon of Wales” using a fire extinguisher within its mouth to put out fire appealed to the children’s humour as they commented that dragons are usually regarded as terrifying in nature! Top drawing tips were also imparted as the artist encouraged the children to look carefully at each armature.
It was an honour having such incredible sculptures in the school and their accessibility meant the children were able to inspect them at close range and get to know and love our recycled visitors.