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Park lions coming back

6:06pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

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By Ben Barnett »

Twin lions are being reinstated in Lister Park in Bradford - thanks to public pressure.

The terracotta sculptures were removed from the park in Manningham around 30 years ago.

But now, following consultation with local residents, the Friends of Lister Park (Flip) have secured funds for an identical pair of lions to return.

Children used to queue to straddle the lions and have their picture taken when they were positioned by the boating lake and playground.

Flip members believe the lions were originally introduced to the park in 1904 for the Great Exhibition of Bradford.

Each lion was about 4ft long and 3ft high and they were moved alongside a café on the other side of the lake.

But one of the statues was vandalised and Bradford Council opted to save its partner from a similar fate and put it into storage. The lion has remained packed away ever since but is roaring back to life to provide a mould for the new set.

Instead of terracotta, these lions will be made of bronze and are pencilled in for an autumn return.

The project was granted more than £24,000 by Waste Recycling Environ-mental Limited (Wren) and the moulding process is being backed by the Council.

Joy Leach, of Flip, said: "They are coming back by popular demand. When we started the consultation process we found they were so well remembered, the support was overwhelming.

"We'd like to think a new generation of people can enjoy the lions as people used to do back then."

Group member Marge Wilson, 71, has fond memories of the lions.

She said: "We used to run in front of our parents to queue to sit on them and we'd dare each other to put our fingers in their mouths."

A Return of the Lions exhibition at Cartwright Hall in the park will accompany the launch of the new sculptures in October. Flip wants people to share their memories of the lions with them and lend their photographs to the exhibition, which aims to chart their history and popularity.

Anyone who wishes to contribute can call Joy on (01274) 223665 or Christine Morgan on (01274) 785729. Alternatively e-mail admin@f-l-i-p.org.

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Your Say YourBradford

myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

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myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

Report this post »

myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

Report this post »

myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

Report this post »

myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

Report this post »

myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

Report this post »

myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

Report this post »

myaser88, YORKSHIRE says...
7:02pm Sat 3 May 08

should be a roaring success ....

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

GEOFF, BRADFORD says...
7:20pm Sat 3 May 08

I LOVED THEM LIONS WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE 60S, WELL DONE FLIP.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:35pm Sat 3 May 08

As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

cathy, Shipley says...
8:12pm Sat 3 May 08

I loved those Lions too, but I always though they had a funny look on their faces. I remember going with my granddad from our home on Duckworth Lane in the 1950's. Lovely sunny Sunday afternoons listening to the bands play in the bandstand too!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Al Spade, Bradford says...
9:01pm Sat 3 May 08

Given the current high price of metal and the fact that the lions are to be made of bronze anyone opening a book on how long they last? Thieves managed to get away with a very large bronze statue (was it two tons?) from the Yorkshire Sculpture Park a couple of years ago. Two small(ish) lions should be dead easy!

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

Where is me hat?, Bradford says...
5:48am Sun 4 May 08

chris wrote:
As long as there not metal of any kind they should be ok.
I see lower primate BNP supporters can't read - either that or you think bronze is some kind of plastic.

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

mad matt, Bradford says...
10:38am Sun 4 May 08

If they are made of bronze, they won't last ten minutes before the scrap men take 'em !

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

skippy, says...
11:05am Sun 4 May 08

shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

Mr Sensible, Bingley says...
7:44pm Sun 4 May 08

Agree with you Skippy, sense at last.No doubt someone in the local community will have some problem with them and that they offend in some obscure way. Someone will say they look like pigs dressed up to look like lions.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

its a joke, Bradford says...
10:47am Mon 5 May 08

Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out.
Good to see them back though.

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

albion, west riding says...
11:13am Mon 5 May 08

its a joke wrote:
Bronze? Now it's been advertised they'll be gone before the week's out. Good to see them back though.
Only if you are quick?

Report this post »

tozmi, leeds says...
9:34pm Mon 5 May 08

skippy wrote:
shame they arent real ones the plenty of food for them wandering about
pity theres no bush kangaroos to feed on