The Path of Life

The path of life is mapped but may not be visible to the eyes of you and I. If offered a chance to see the road ahead, would we chose to know or would we allow life to unveil itself daily? It’s food for thought, especially when we look back on life’s journey; the crossroads, the highways and byways, the avenues and cold-de-sacs.

Three years ago, a late colleague alerted me to the unveiling of a Sikh soldier in the neighbouring area of Smethwick. He was emphatic that I participated in the ceremony and felt that I would benefit from exposure to the planning and coordination of the undertaking. Additionally, he saw an opportunity for me to interact with various individuals from the community.

Heeding his advice, I attended the event where I met the statue’s creator, Luke Perry. I congratulated him for the outstanding lifelike representation of the gallant men who so bravely fought to secure peace for our nation.

At the conclusion of our brief encounter Luke gave me his business card which I dutifully added to my collection. Three years later an idea began to form in my mind that required a sculpture. I immediately remembered Luke and raced to find his card from our previous encounter.

The map of life dictated that I find Luke’s card and then I pondered for a few days whether or not to call him. I did eventually and an amazing sequence of events ensued.

Intrigued, I visited the monument in Handsworth Park the very next day with my granddaughter Amelia. This sculpture is virtually on my doorstep and I wasn’t aware it. The presence of such an image in my local park was inspired by the journey made by Luke Perry’s family friends who made the epic sea crossing from Jamaica to Handswoth. The detail and outline of the journey depicting how some people travelled to Britain from various countries, provided comfort that some of the forgotten generations are being remembered.

I immediately identified with the concept and practical representation of the monument as I was one of the many who travelled from the Caribbean to Handsworth. I also learned that the SS Journey is a part of the Handsworth Park Arts Trail and that the Arts Trail was officially launched by my cousin, distinguished local photographer Vanley Burke, on the 6th October 2017.

The outstanding Arts Trail was an idea devised by Visual Artist Pauline Bailey and Consultant/Project Manager Jan Kimber from Handsworth Creative. After the success of a temporary trail in 2015 the Arts Council funded a permanent arts trail developed over a three-year period from 2017. During the launch of the first sculpture commissioned by Handsworth Creative to renowned Regional Sculptor Luke Perry, Photographer Vanley Burke officially opened the event with a great opening speech championing the cause of Artists (especially local artists). A subsequent 2 more sculptures were commissioned, and Pauline created the four-sided Pyramid Tower as an integral part of the Arts Trail.

Further information can be found at: www.handsworthcreative.com/park-arts-trail

The next day I called Luke and thanked him for a job very well done. About two weeks later he phoned inviting me to participate in a new project of his. He explained the concept of creating and building a structure to include 25 people from the local community, together pulling the Birmingham Coat of Arms forward into the future.

The Birmingham Coat of Arms represents local people and industry. The idea of updating the concept was extremely fitting and to include the motto of Birmingham ‘Forward’ in the name of the monument ‘Forward Together’ was a stroke of genius by Luke.

I became very enthusiastic and somewhat overwhelmed to be included in such a project. I later learned that the other 24 participants were from all walks of life, representing many ethnicities within the community. Importantly, the project had to be completed within 2 weeks from start to finish as a part of the agreement. Each participant had to visit Luke’s factory to be photographed so that a cast of all individuals could be made to bring the concept to life.

Birmingham City Council determined that the monument would be a fitting symbol to be included in the Commonwealth Games 2022 cultural programme, and therefore agreed that it could be erected in the City Centre.

The massive undertaking of creating and building such a impressive structure was completed by the FAB five, as I call them. Luke Perry, Nats Perry, Raaj Shamiji, Halding Wright and Pauline Bailey.