Public Transport
Sir Edward Elgar is standing at a bus stop
in Great Malvern, alongside a public telephone kiosk;
bowler-hatted and moustachioed, nonchalantly
squinting at his fluorescent green mobile.
To his left there are three more of him – he’s quite
the man about town. Behind the seats of the bus shelter,
in what would carry for smart casual
at the wine bar up the road, he’s examining
his wristwatch, gazing hopefully at the distance,
then finally discovering the composure of sleep.
This quartet have been waiting since one Sunday
in late winter. They “appeared overnight” and the whisper
was that Banksy had blessed us with his signature.
Yet when the work was revealed to be that of local artists,
the good citizens of Malvern suppressed
their disappointment, for they know what they like.
A campaign was orchestrated, opinion was canvassed:
Bill, 66, and a retired mechanic,
thought the images were brilliant and was crossing
his fingers that the council wouldn’t write them off.
There were some discordant voices – an unnamed
accountant called the paintings vandalism
and urged their removal. Supposing I drew
Nigel Kennedy, unshaven and sporting
an Aston Villa top, lighting up a cigarette
on the railway station walls, the reception
might not be quite as warm. But, alas, I cannot paint
or do anything but sleep in the early hours
of Sundays. It is artists who are driven;
my sort are just transported, after all.
The pranksters have apologised for not asking
permission and have stated that we don’t condone
unauthorised graffiti. The council have allowed
the paintings to remain and are promising
to smarten up the bus stop and its environs.
In addition they’ve commissioned further work
from the duo, who describe the public reaction
as “surreal”. It is all so very British, though
the bus drivers are not happy, always late
to catch up with the prevailing mood.
So many sightseers gather to look upon
Sir Edward Elgar, they often halt their buses
for no passengers at all. There’s an example
of the capacity of art to confound.
Ray Miller is growing a moustache and a bowler hat.