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A much-loved Coventry sculpture is to be reborn in the city as part of the redevelopments of Belgrade Square. The Bryan Bailey memorial was created in 1962 in honour of the first director of the Belgrade Theatre who died in a car accident in 1960. The original statue, by Norelle Keddie, was commissioned by Bailey’s mother and depicts a human figure with raised arms enclosed by the comic and tragic masks of the theatre and was made of fibreglass and epoxy resin. Developers Oakmoor Deeley commissioned a new bronze recasting of the memorial as part of the £1 million transformation of the square and the £150 Belgrade Plaza development. Ian Beaumont, of Deeley Properties, said the recasting will give a new lease of life to the well-known sculpture. “The sculpture is an important part of the heritage of the Belgrade Theatre and the whole of the city, so it is only right that it plays a significant role in the redevelopments of the square,” he said. “The statue had not aged well and the theatre was faced with the prospect of it not surviving in the long term. “We decided recasting it in bronze would be a lasting tribute to one of the best known memorials in Coventry and would be in keeping with the transformations to the square. “The vision for the new square is a stunning, modern public place which will belong to the people of Coventry and we are pleased that the improved Bryan Bailey memorial will firmly be a part of that.” As part of its redevelopment, Belgrade Square will be transformed using contemporary surface materials together with grassed areas and new trees. New seating and a water feature will be created in the scheme, which has been developed in collaboration with the city council, Belgrade Theatre and local interest groups. Belgrade Plaza, which will create a new culture, entertainment and leisure quarter, includes an award-winning multi storey car park and will be home to a four star Radisson Edwardian hotel, Pizza Express, Bella Italia, Premier Inn, Metro Bar and Grill and Gala Casino. Derbyshire-based company Leander Architectural cast the artwork at its foundry in mid-Wales.  Julian Rockey, back, from Leander Architectural with Ian Beaumont from Deeleys. |
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