Pupils at a Derby school were among the first to get up close and personal with a giant sculpture of a bee that is touring the city and county.
The anti-violence bee statue, created by the British Iron Work Centre – the same people behind the breathtaking Knife Angel statue that toured the city and county in 2021 – stands at 11ft high and features knives and firearms collected during an arms amnesty organised by Greater Manchester Police.
It began its tour of Derbyshire and Derby city on November 26, and has visited several schools in the area including The Bemrose School, in Uttoxeter Road.
Bemrose School students with head Neil Wilkinson and the anti-violence bee.
Executive headteacher Neil Wilkinson said: “It’s about education. The role of a school is to broaden young people’s outlook and help them make informed decisions, or choices.
“Prevention is better than cure, when you’re talking about a young person having any kind of weapon. It’s very easy to be led, or to pick something up, or make a bad choice. This is about helping children first-hand what damage can be caused and understand that there’s no place for violence or causing other people harm or distress in their life.
“Up close, the bee is very impressive. When you see it on the Internet you don’t get any idea of its proportions, or that these are actual guns that have been handed in.”
Chief inspector Alex Wood, from Derbyshire Constabulary, has been involved in getting the bee sculpture to Derbyshire where it is touring the area in order to give as many people a chance to see it as possible.
He was at The Bemrose School to talk to pupils about the bee sculpture, its meaning and creation.
Chief inspector Wood said: “We’re really grateful to the British Ironworks for loaning us such a fantastic piece of artwork. It’s really important for us, particularly at this time of year, to carry on with our promotion of the anti-violence message. We know in the run-up to Christmas that there are sometimes more violent incidents with domestic situations, the night time economy, Christmas parties and also, this year, the World Cup.
“It’s also really important for us that partners like Neil Wilkinson at The Bemrose School assist us in helping promote this anti-violence message because arresting people will not solve the situation on its own.”
Pupils at The Bemrose School were very impressed by seeing the bee sculpture up close.
“It’s quite amazing now I can see it in person,” said Finley. “I’m trying to figure out how many guns are in it. I like how they have used them.”
“It’s very creative,” agreed fellow year seven pupil Isla Hawksworth.
The worker bee is an important symbol to the people of Manchester, signifying a city made by workers and people. It was first adopted as a motif in the 18th Century, going on to feature on some of the city’s most prominent buildings, landmarks and brands.
However, when young fans of singer Ariana Grande were targeted at a concert held at Manchester Arena in 2017, the bee became a symbol of defiance and unity with the American having her own bee tattoo to commemorate those who tragically lost their lives.
Greater Manchester Police wanted to pay their own respects and, following the arms amnesty in which 7.5 tonnes of weapons were surrendered, The British Ironwork Centre set about creating a sculpture that would serve as a stark reminder that we need to rid our streets of such danger.
It will visit the towns of Belper, Chesterfield and Alfreton before concluding its tour of Derbyshire at Hall Leys Park in Matlock on Wednesday, December 21.
