Statues - Hither & Thither

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St. Nicholas Street / Cromwell Square

Prince Alexander Obolensky

Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky - Александр Сергеевич Оболенский
St. Petersburg 1916 - Martlesham Heath Airfield 1940 (air crash)
Russian Rurikid prince and an international rugby union footballer who played for England; RAF pilot
(Wikipedia)

Harry Gray
2009

Description

Bust of Prince Alexander Obolensky, bare-chested holding the ball behind him, at the moment of the forward thrust of his great Twickenham try.

Inscription(s)

PRINCE ALEXANDER OBOLENSKY	RUGBY LEGEND	WARTIME PILOT
a sporting icon. the prince came from st petersburg as a baby when his family fled the russian revolution in 1917. an oxford graduate, obolensky became a naturalised englishman. he died near ipswich aged only 24.	obolensky, a winger, known as the prince of pace scored two 'breathtaking' tries on his international debut against new zealand in 1936, bringing england's first victory over the all blacks. his second score is called 'the greatest england try ever'. he once played in an international rugby trial at portman road football ground.	a volunteer raf pilot in the second world war, obolensky's life was cut short when his hurricane fighter crash-landed at martlesham hearth in 1940. obolensky is buried in ipswich cemetery the tribute on the grave reads: 'his undaunted spirit and endearing qualities live forever in the hearts of all who knew him'.

Signed: (bronze) GRAY
(pedestal) by / harry gray
On two rear chamfers: JH - SH At the front: DS MW EA PG MC
(JH = James Hehir, chief executive of the borough council)
what is the meaning of the other letters?

Annotation

Unveiled on 18 February 2009 by the Prince's niece, Princess Alexandra Obolensky. The bronze study for the statue is a full running figure which is exhibited at the World Museum at the Twickenham Stadium.

Sculptor

Harry Gray, British sculptor (Website).

Sources & Information

Ipswich Borough Council, Public Art in Ipswich.
Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk & Suffolk, Ipswich Sculpture Trail PDF on-line.
Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk & Suffolk, database.
Borin Van Loon, Ipswich Historic Lettering, Prince Obolensky.

Locatie (N 52°3'19" - E 1°9'8") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbee026; Photograph: 1 August 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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