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Larkin with Toads

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Main article: Larkin 25
Number 10: representation of Larkin as a toad, Princes Quay Shopping Centre, Kingston upon Hull

Larkin with Toads is a public art installation which was launched in Kingston upon Hull city centre on Saturday 17 July 2010 as the centrepiece of the Larkin 25 festival celebrating the life and work of the poet Philip Larkin.[1] The toad launch coincided with the return to Hull of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet.[2]

The idea for the trail was inspired by Larkin's poems about working life, 'Toads' and 'Toads Revisited' and also recalls the poet's love of wildlife.[3] The completed designs [4] include a Larkin toad, a 'Punk toad, a 'Tiger Toad' based on the mascot of Hull City AFC (football club) and a 'Typographical toad' adorned with Larkin's poetry.[5] The organisers intend to auction the toads for charity at the end of the event but there have been calls to make them a permanent feature.[6] Larkin with Toads joins several established educational trails in Hull including the newly refurbished Seven Seas trail (installed in 1992) marking the city's fishing heritage which saw some new features added in July 2010.[7]

Locations

The Larkin toad trail covers key locations in Hull city centre such as Hull Paragon Interchange, Hull Truck Theatre, the Museum Quarter, The Deep. There are toads in the city's three shopping centres, St. Stephen's Hull, Princes Quay and the Prospect Centre. The organisers have produced a downloadable map and guide. Other toads are located in outlying suburban areas such The Avenues and University of Hull with some beyond Hull's boundaries in areas of the East Riding known to Larkin. There is also a Larkin toad at the nearby town of Beverley, located on Flemingate near Beverley Minster and the "Citycare toad" toured health and community centres in Hull.[8]

Public reception

By late July 2010, The Hull Daily Mail reported that 'more than 30, 000' 'Larkin with Toads' guides had been distributed to members of the public with supplies running low. Demand for the guides has been such that the organisers have ordered a reprint, with a marketing company being employed to cope with the high level of public interest in the event.[9]

Vandalism and theft

Shortly after their installation, the Yorkshire Post reported that several of the toad models had been vandalised.[10] A 'punk toad' placed near to Hull Truck Theatre had its mohican ripped off and an 'astronaut toad' outside Hull Paragon Interchange (railway station) also suffered damage.[11] The organisers repaired the damage at a dedicated workshop and strived to keep the toads on public display. A 'toads hotline' was set up to report damage to the organisers.

On Monday 6 September 2010, the BBC and Hull Daily Mail reported that the 'Magenta toad' had been stolen from its plinth at a business park in North Ferriby.[12][13] It was later found dumped by the A63 and recovered for repair.[14]

References

  1. ^ Hull Daily Mail 17 July 2010 'Weird and wonderful toads hop onto city streets for Larkin 25 celebrations' . Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  2. ^ "Larkin With Toads". Larkin 25. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Picking a Tigger toad for Larkin Festival". This is Hull and East Riding. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Larkin Toads Revealed". Thisishullandeastriding.co.uk. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Hull to mark 25th anniversary of Larkin's death with giant model toads". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  6. ^ This is Hull and East Riding 20 July 2010 'City's toad invasion could be here to stay after 'incredibly positive' response' . Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  7. ^ This is Hull and East Riding 20 July 2010 'Three new stars for Hull's fish trail' . Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  8. ^ "'City's healthiest Larkin25 toad goes on tour'". Citycare-developments.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  9. ^ This is Hull and East Riding 27 July 2010 'Toad trail maps leap off shelves' . Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  10. ^ Yorkshire Post 20 July 2010 'Toads in a hole as tributes hit by pond life' . Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Philip Larkin toads vandalised". Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  12. ^ 'Thieves steal giant Philip Larkin toad in Hull' BBC News Humber 6 September 2010.
  13. ^ 'Larkin Toad stolen from North Ferriby' Hull Daily Mail This is Hull and East Riding, 6 September 2010.
  14. ^ 'Stolen toad found dumped by A63' Hull Daily Mail 7 September 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
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