Saving the Grammar School Mural

A brief summary of Kettering Civic Society’s efforts to secure the mosaic for the town

Formerly Kettering Grammar School and Kettering School for Boys, the site now belongs to Tresham Institute. A new building due to be opened this year will replace the original buildings which will be demolished to make way for parking. Tresham Institute was not able to include the mosaic into the plans of the new building.

After careful consideration by Tresham Governors, Kettering Civic Society were ‘given’ the mosaic.

The Society recognises the mosaic as being a distinctive work of art dating from the 1960’s. It was the very first mosaic that Kenneth Budd created. He went on to create many more including the one on Birmingham’s Bull Ring Shopping Centre.Kettering’s mosaic is unique because of it’s rarity as many of Budd’s mosaics have been demolished. When the building is demolished, there will be no vestige that a Grammar School had existed for over 400 years in our historic town of Kettering.

The mosaic is a modern interpretation of the Kettering Coat of Arms and it tells the story of Kettering’s fascinating industrial and social history.

Mosaic specialist, Oliver Budd, was invited to Kettering by the Society to carry out a survey to ascertain whether the mosaic could be removed from the wall successfully. Thankfully it was, and the Society received a report with costs for the removal, restoration and the relocation of the mosaic. The decision at a Civic Society committee meeting on 3rd January 2007 concluded that steps should be taken to save the mosaic, by keeping it in safe storage until a suitable site could be found. On Monday, 12th February, the scaffolding will be up and ready for Oliver Budd to commence removing a test piece. If this is successful, he will continue with the removal of the mosaic.

This first stage will cost £20,000 and must be paid for this year (2007). £2,000 MUST be paid for the work to be carried out during February. When a suitable site is found a further £80,000 will be needed.

The school educated some famous Kettering names: Thomas Toller, William Knibb (Emancipator), John Alfred Gotch (Architect), Sir Alfred East (Artist) HE Bates (Author). School Masters Geoffrey Perry and Derek Slater, who tracked Sputnik 4 in May 1960 were subjects in a Channel 4 drama based on their achievements at the school: “Sputniks’, Bleeps and Mr. Perry”, which was broadcast in March 1987. Amongst the many successful former students, the Civic Society was delighted welcome Sir Peter Crane, then Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, as speaker at their annual dinner.

Fundraising began on 12th January and within twelve days £725 had been donated. Our first event is a Prize Draw - Prizes include - One night stay in London with visits to The Houses of Parliament and the London Eye - Dinner for Two At The Three Swans in Market Harborough - £50 - many more prizes including these from our sponsors Perfect Inches - Back, neck and shoulder massage Forget-me-not - Silk flower arrangement - The Star Inn, Geddington - A meal voucher for £20 - Pytchley Lodge - A round of Golf - Kettering Football Club.

Tickets available from the secretary Monica Ozdemir mmozdemir@yahoo.com

Also to promote our campaign we are holding a Mid Summer’s Eve Extravaganza for members and Society friends at Kettering Leisure Village. The evening of 21st June will include a hog roast and music for all tastes, kindly provided by Bill Burton.

The mural is the only visual record of Kettering's history; it was designed and made after thorough research into the history of Kettering by Kenneth Budd. It is a modem interpretation of the towns Coat-of-Arms.

We include an explanation of the mural by the artist himself, for the benefit of future generations of students - or passers by.  

A Numbered Diagram by the Artist  

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WHAT'S IT ALL MEAN?

Maybe I can answer that question now, I heard it so often as I worked up aloft on the scaffolding with my two assistants.

Stated briefly, the Mural portrays the Coat-of-Arms and Industries of Kettering: but its most important function is to decorate the building, in the same way that a brooch decorates its wearer.

Accepting this you will then ask why have I designed it in this way. The answer is partly that this is my style of work, but mainly, by reason of the limitations and requirements of Mural design.

(a) It has to fit naturally into its setting and be in harmony with the building of which it is a part.
(b) By reason of this, it must appear as a balanced and even decoration, in order to preserve the Architectural Harmony.
(c) There are no "Lazy" spaces, each part has its purpose, fitting into the next and gaining its form, to a large extent, from the shapes that surround it, whilst retaining its own identity. This naturally results in some distortion of individual objects, so these have been deliberately simplified to avoid confusion.

The mural is composed of broken tiles: some glossy, some matt, some dimpled, some dappled, and also glass mosaic to supply the reds and brighter yellow and blues. We have tried to make each area exciting by mixing our surfaces and colours to create variety within the limits of individual forms

Now let's look at the mural itself. On the top left: We have a crown standing on its rim of ermine (1). The original Grammar School was founded during the reign of Elizabeth 1, and this reminds us of that foundation. On the crown are crosses and this same cross you will find in the centre of the Coat-of-Arms of Kettering. Beneath the crown and moving across there is: The Griffin (2) with his wings outstretched and straight from the Coat-of-Arms except that his upper wing suddenly changes into coat sleeves (3) illustrating the local tailoring industry, made clearer by the addition of the shears. Underneath our Griffins beak there are a pile of boxes (4) depicting the local carton manufacturers, and next across (5) the mouths and clappers of two bells, reminding us that Kettering once had a Bell Foundry. Above the bells is the Hide from the Coat-of-Arms (6), and over this three wheels (7) for the Printing Industry, printing Braille (8) and Tickets (9). Between these we find Flames (10) from the Coat-of Arms and indicating the Ironstone furnaces.

Alongside, and still moving to the right, are two Martins on "Fountain Ground" (11) taken from the Coat of-Arms, and brought together for company. Underneath them, the open upper of a boot (12) which I certainly could not omit, and which echoes the wing shape of the birds. Whilst right at the bottom, the shapes of Chains (13) leading round to Negroes in their white gowns (14). Although only one Negro appears on the Coat of-Arms, 1 have used five, to remind us that the Baptist Missionary Society founded in Kettering, was largely responsible for the release of slaves. Hence our slaves wear their Baptismal gowns. Three wear earrings, and two hats and if you look carefully, you will see that they are not without features.

And what about the little motif in the bottom right-hand corner? Well, that's simple 62 for the year, and between the numbers - a bud!

Kenneth Budd

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Support Letter

Dear Secretary

I understand that Kenneth Budd's mosaic mural, THE KETTERING ABSTRACT is under threat by a proposed demolition and your Society has a campaign to save this work. This email is intended to register my total support for the campaign.
Kenneth Budd was an eminent mosaic artist and we are fortunate to have numerous examples of his, and indeed his successor firm's work here in South East Wales. These are public works of great stature and while perhaps rather different to yours in that they are generally figurative, they are greatly valued, appreciated and enjoyed by the public. They provide an enormous contribution to the artistic and cultural environment and we consider ourselves fortunate to have these fine examples of this master artist's work.

The destruction of one of Kenneth Budd's major works at Kettering could only be described as a great tragedy. This is a view which I am sure is shared by countless people who have enjoyed the fruits of his skills, in all areas of the country where he has worked. I can understand that by the very nature of growth and development the things that we treasure can come under threat. But it is important that valuable works of art should be saved and relocated for their enjoyment by future generations.

I wish your campaign every success.

G W Thomas JP,
Chartered Civil Engineer [retd]

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THE MURAL POEM

A myriad of colours, shapes and sizes,
Each one chiselled and crafted
To contribute to the whole
Which is clearly visible
And meaningful to few.

The fragments do make sense
From a distance; see
How each constituent piece,
Alone seems worthless,
Proves invaluable.

This kaleidoscope construction took its identity
From its makers; they themselves were shaped
By their efforts, the recipients likewise moulded.
Thus three compounds grew from one structure.

Now it crumbles, its image splintering into confusion,
And those once affected whisper regret
As they recall the blurred vision from their past.

Christopher Kidman

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