"UNITY" By Alec Peever

Image: © Robert Wade Taken: 29 Jan 2011

Four figures in stone, raising arms above heads to meet... On stone pedestal. The statue was commissioned by Rochdale Council to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Co-operative Movement by the Rochdale Pioneers. It was funded by the council in association with Manchester Airport at a cost of £20,000 and chosen from 20 designs submitted as part of a national competition. The naked figures are joined in unity, a celebration (according to the Council) of "the human and universal element of co-operation and the co-operative movement." The nakedness of the figures led to some objections, particularly from then Labour leader of Manchester City Council Graham Stringer. Stringer found the statue "frankly inappropriate" and told the selection committee that he did not wish to be associated with the "Rochdale bottoms." Rochdale's Civic Society also weighed in against the statue on the grounds that it was badly designed and the sex of the figures could not be discerned. One Civic Society member complained, "you can't tell if they're supposed to be men or women." However, the piece had the full backing of Rochdale's Liberal leader Paul Rowen, who accused Stringer of "lacking culture." The figures were, he said, "perfectly tasteful." Thanks to http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/4431/ Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0