[vc_row fullwidth=”true” attached=”false” padding=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_edge_slider first_el=”true” swiper_bg=”#000000″ parallax=”true” slides=”58,175,177,179″ order=”ASC” orderby=”date” full_height=”false” height=”450″ animation_effect=”fade” animation_speed=”700″ slideshow_speed=”7000″ direction_nav=”none” pagination=”none” skip_arrow=”false”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”false” attached=”false” padding=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”false” color=”#dd9933″ size=”38″ font_weight=”normal” font_style=”inhert” letter_spacing=”0″ margin_top=”45″ margin_bottom=”16″ font_family=”Arvo” align=”left” font_type=”google”]LARKINALIA
A LIFE IN OBJECTS[/mk_fancy_title][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-sm-offset-0″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”38″]

OBJECT 1

The Larkin statue has been commissioned on behalf of Larkin 25 by the Philip Larkin Society to act as a lasting legacy honouring the poet’s connections with the city of Hull. The unveiling is planned for 2nd December 2010 – exactly 25 years after the poet’s death – concluding a six month series of commemorative events.

Hull’s Paragon Station was a spot favoured by Larkin as it was the departure point for many of his trips on his bicycle to the local countryside, as well as for the famous journey captured in ‘The Whitsun Weddings’. First TransPennine and Network Rail are supporting the project.

The three shortlisted sculptors, Jemma Pearson, Martin Jennings and Graham Ibbeson are creators of some of the nation’s most popular sculptures. Ibbeson installed the famous tribute to Eric Morecambe at Morecambe Bay; Pearson created the younger looking Darwin sculpture at Shrewsbury School and the two portraits of Elgar at Hereford and Broadheath to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth; Jennings recently installed the much-loved statue of Sir John Betjeman in St Pancras Station, London.

The chosen artist will be appointed by the Commissioning Group in consultation with the Chair of the Larkin Society Executive Committee, Professor Edwin Dawes, and announced in mid-February 2010. In the mean time, the Larkin Society is looking to raise £80,000 to help fund the statue and associated costs. A public appeal has been launched and donations can be made online.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”orange” align=”align_center”][vc_empty_space height=”64px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]