Invasion of the Gromits

[Colwyn]

Occasionally - not often, but occasionally - Bristol City Council gets things right. It did so in 2011 when it commissioned dozens of life-size statues of Albert, the late, much loved, Bristol Zoo gorilla, and gave them to various people and schools to be decorated. They were then located in various spots around the city centre in unexpected spots so you had to be quite observant to see them. Thousands of people visited the city centre with their children to go round the Gorilla Trail to see how many they could spot. You could hear excited children's voices shouting "Look, look, there's one!" all round the city. In September the gorillas were auctioned off for charity and made £500,000.


This year the model is one of Bristol's favourite sons - the very famous, Oscar winning, Gromit. 70, five foot tall statues have been sent around the world to various artists who will return them, painted up, for display this Summer. In September they will be auctioned for Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal with the proceeds going to Bristol Children's Hospital. Here are the first four.

[Laura B]

Wasn't his name Alfred not Albert???

[Colwyn]

You are quite right Laura. He was the first gorilla seen in Britain and arrived in 1930s. I must have confused him with Queen Victoria's consort - I expect he was an exceptionally hairy German.

[bewva]

Chester did a similar thing with hippos's for some reason.

[160606]

Ah yes, but it was only in Liverpool that you have been able to find that you will find that illusive Lambanana, which for those who don't know about it is the head of a lamb and the body and back of a banana.  We had them all over the city, they were decorated and covered in grass, flowers, everything you could think of the the  Council printed maps off for the children during the summer holidays so they could find them all.  We had a go in an away day with work, and had a great time seeing who could locate the most.  I think it all started in America about 11 years ago, when we were there city's were full of bright, colourful painted cows.

[angela]

I did a course at John Moores Uni a couple of years ago, and for my first visit I was staying at the Marriott opposite the station. It was a sunday night in January when I arrived, and I didn't have a clue where to go, so the Lambanana outside JMU was great landmark for me. He featured heavily in a presentation I had to do about the course.

[Scunner]

In the one horse town of Newtonmore - a small place that always seems to be half way from here to wherever you are going, it's cats. Once painted in individual style I think they are placed around the town and you can win a prize or something if you find the most. It was explained to us but I wasn't really listening to be honest.

[Bunnyhopper]

Thanks for sharing Colwyn - these first 4 are absolutely beautiful!  Would love to see all 70 when they re done.

What would Wallace say...!

[angela]

Only just got to see these, as the pics  were blocked at work, I want one!!