At the front of a local Catholic primary school are several statues that depict the crucifixion scene. It’s been there like, forever. For the entire life (around seventy years) of the estate on which I live, children would take it in on the way into school; people in cars would glimpse it illuminated at night as they passed. It’s an iconic part of the neighbourhood. Show a photograph of it to any current or former local and they’ll recognise it.
My German Shepherd, Max, circa 1990, was seriously spooked by it. He’d stop and stare at the figure of Christ, hanging motionless above him, before emitting a throaty growl. I’d have to drag him away much to the amusement of onlookers.
The week before Easter, the town was rocked by an early morning discovery on the site.
It seems that the first suspicion was: mindless vandalism, probably kids. This was swiftly followed, because of this period in the Christian calendar, by the idea of more sinister motives, along on the lines of a hate crime.
But after more considered reflection, it was believed that the cross being sawn right through discounted kids, while the fact that both Jesus and Mary had been taken suggested that the motive was theft. It was further speculated that John the Beloved, being upended, was perhaps the next in line to be taken until the unknown culprits had been disturbed.
Who would want to steal these figures? Surely anyone acquiring a new novelty garden feature would draw attention to themselves? Can the material that the statues were cast in be weighed in for financial gain? Just a few months before, another statue – this one a hundred years old, had been taken from the grounds of a church in nearby Salford.
Today people will do anything to make money. It seems that nothing – literally – is sacred.
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It wasn’t exactly glorious Bank Holiday weather, but we managed to get a few matches in. For what is a Bank Holiday without football? (My son often asks.)
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I’ve already mentioned a former dog, Max, My current one is a Welsh Springer Spaniel, named Bryn. He has already made his debut on City Jackdaw, having featured a few times. Limelight stealer that he is.
As the day was gradually ceding the ground to evening, I took him for a walk in a local park (about five minutes from the ‘former’ crucifixion scene). I let him off the lead, and as I followed his route I came across a scene that I thought would make a nice ‘arty’ shot.
Bryn soon showed me what he thought of such pretension.
Everyone’s a critic.
City Jackdaw 