Jon Egging Memorial Relocation, Bournemouth
Client: Bournemouth Borough Council
Background
A sculpture in memorial of the Red Arrows pilot Jon Egging, who was killed at the Bournemouth Air Festival display in 2011, had become inaccessible following a landslip on the East Cliff in Bournemouth. The 5m-high (16ft 4in) artwork, featuring three glass Red Arrows planes and stainless-steel contrails, needed to be relocated to a new site for safety reasons.
The scheme was designed by Bournemouth Councils in house landscape architects and engineers. The concept behind the new scheme being a low cairn structure to hide the foundations of the monument, elevate the structure and allow a plinth to sit against or on or to lay flowers. The cairn coming directly from Jon’s love of walks in the mountains and one of the families wishes to be incorporated in the design.
Scandor submitted costs and sponsorship for the works in July 2017 which was successful.
Our Role
Scandor were appointed as main contractor for the project which commenced in July 2017. The works consisted of:
- Formation of a low cairn plinth constructed from Purbeck Stone
- Concrete base for the contrails
- Installation of double circular row of granite setts
- Fencing
- Resin bound gravel in Bauxite Buff
- Purbeck stone rockery with planting pockets
- Lighting
- Planting
- Removal of sculpture, restoration and repositioning in new location using a crane
Challenges
The lifting of the memorial structure had to be very carefully organised and carried out to avoid damage to the structure itself. The position right next to the cliff top was an operational challenge for the safety of the Scandor employees as well as members of the public above and below the cliff. The sculpture was lifted onto a lorry in order to be removed for restoration, using a crane and lifting supervisor. All working operatives wore harnesses and were tied in to the crane set back from the cliff top. Operative were positioned below on the beach in direct link through radio communication to close off the promenade to the public in the event of further cliff fall.
The area where the works were undertaken were very busy with tourists during the height of the summer. Works were required to be completed for the Air Festival weekend and for the opening of the new site by the Jon Egging family.
