Angel Under Repair

I had physio on my leg this morning and it is really healing well. After that I stopped in the city for a few shots. It was overcast and so gloomy but rather mild I felt this morning and I enjoyed a short walk around and came upon some interesting things.

There were a number of groups of older people walking around the city and I got talking to one of them and she said she hadn't been in the city since the Earthquakes.


I visited the Pallet Pavilion to see how the deconstruction was coming along. There was a guy walking around talking shots and we got talking. I found out he is the official photography for the next eight weeks documenting the dismantling of the Pavilion. When he found out that I walk around the city taking shots he asked if I wanted to join the team of official photographers... first he wants to see some of my work then if they are OK he will get me registered and I will get a name tag and well have access to the site.

It was had to know which shot to put up today and went for this shot of some repair work being done on the Citizens' War Memorial located in Cathedral Square, north of ChristChurch Cathedral. The land on which it is built is owned by the Anglican Church. The heritage tram passes the memorial on the road that goes behind and around the Cathedral.

The bronze memorial stands 16 metres (52 ft) in height. The compilation of bronzes were cast in London and are characterised as classicising idealism. The allegorical figures included Youth, Sacrifice, Justice, Valour, and Peace. They were based on Trethewey's family and friends, such as Trethewey's daughter Pauline, his workman, Bob Hampton who modelled for Youth, as well as the religious figure of Saint George. An engraving at the base of the memorial states reads:
In grateful remembrance of the sons and daughters of Canterbury who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 Give peace in our time o Lord.

The design was to be of peace not war; a cross should be included, as well as an expression of high ideals. The memorial was designed by the architect George Hart and the Christchurch sculptor William Trethewey (1892–1956). According to Trethewey's son, the sculptor took out a pencil one lunch and sketched a possible war memorial. He took the sketch to Hart and from this, they produced the design. The design was accepted in 1933, after which Trethewey refined it before carving the figures in clay, boxing them up, and forwarding them for casting to the Arthur Bryan Burton Foundry in London. Trethewey travelled to London and supervised the casting of the bronze figures.

Each year on Anzac Day, services are held at the memorial with thousands of Cantabrians in attendance. In 2011, with the Christchurch Central City cordoned off following the earthquake in February, the service was held in Hagley Park instead.

PS... the blip of the 'Giant dancer festival's stunning finale' I did yesterday I noticed this morning the guy as still working on it!