Latest news with #Prospero
BBC News
2 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Secret Isle of Wight: Island's role in Britain's space programme
A group of rocks sits in the English Channel, rising about 98ft (30m) out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Needles are known as an iconic landmark to many, popular with tourists and one of the island's main attractions, but during the Cold War they bore witness to top secret the 1950s to the 1970s, the Needles New Battery was a highly classified rocket testing facility, leading rocket technology in the Solent's Alex Hopwood went to see it to find out what really took place - and why the location was chosen. In the mid-19th Century, the Old Needles Battery was one of approximately 70 forts and batteries around the UK to be constructed and fitted with guns. With an upgrade due in the following century, the New Needles Battery was structure overlooks the Needles - a row of three stacks of chalk sticking out of the sea – and is filled with stories about the island's secret rocket testing. From 1955, a company called Saunders Roe leased the site and secretly tested the Black Knight rocket and the 44ft Black Arrow rocket, which was designed to launch the Prospero satellite into a 300-mile circular orbit. Prospero was designed to carry data on meteorites and space erosion, the process by which moons, asteroids and planets are altered by the harsh environment of total, 22 Black Knights and four Black Arrow rockets were deconstructed at the Needles, packaged up and sent to Australia for further testing in an even more secret a successful launch of the Black Knight in 1958, the programme was cancelled, with the last test firing in 1971. The site was then decommissioned. In October 1971, Black Arrow successfully launched Prospero into space."That's still the only satellite that Britain has manufactured, produced and launched into space," said National Trust volunteer Steve Berden. "Prospero is still orbiting the Earth," he said. "The Wight Aviation Museum in Sandown has got equipment which tracks it - they've got it on a big screen and they can follow it." The New Needles Battery was chosen as the secret rocket testing site because of its natural bowl shape. It meant it was hidden away from the public and could only be seen from the sea by passing Berden said: "I think some of the general public did know it was here but it was obviously kept as a top secret site."The whole area was fenced off, with a guard house and police patrols with dogs."No-one would have been able to get through the site without special permission," Mr Berden added. The rocket firings were operated on a strict time sequence and large timing clocks were placed in all manned areas so workers could get underground in time, explained Mr Berden's fellow volunteer Jo Thornton."When the clocks moved towards the red section, they let off bleeps every 10 seconds to warn the workers," she said. "The whole process could be aborted at any time by pressing one button but this button wasn't just located in one position, it was located in several positions in case there was an issue." The control room was protected by steel armoured doors, about 3in thick in some rusting, the doors would have provided considerable protection when testing was being carried were able to watch the launches through circular viewing holes, filled with 8in thick glass. Mr Berden said: "The door would be locked shut and then, if there was any kind of explosion, the people inside should be reasonably safe because it's quite a thickly constructed building and they've got views of whichever one is being fired at the time." Once an active site with more than 200 employees, it continues to provide a window into a little-known part of the island's history and its role in Britain's space programme. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
For once the BBC is right: monsters can be great artists too
Eric Gill was undoubtedly a monster, guilty of the sexual abuse of children – his own children. For some reason he recorded his obnoxious private life in his diaries and was guilty of offences within his own family that would have landed him in prison had they been known. Why then, it is being asked, should the BBC wish to spend more than half a million pounds restoring his statue of Prospero and Ariel on the imposing exterior of Broadcasting House? Installed in 1933, the statue has already been attacked with a hammer twice in the last three years, prompting the installation of a protective screen in front of the work. Gill has become a particular target of the far-Right. Yet this sculpture forms an integral part of one of London's iconic buildings and is the masterwork of an exceptionally skilled artist. In the Dictionary of National Biography, Gill is described as 'the greatest artist-craftsman of the twentieth century.' We still live with the beautiful typefaces he designed, such as Perpetua and Gill Sans, enthusiastically adopted by Penguin and other publishers. His view was that 'a good piece of lettering is as beautiful a thing to see as any sculpture or painted picture', but not long before the First World War he began to turn his hand to sculpture as well. Some of his most famous engravings give away aspects of his character: sexualised images of young women commonly appear, and his views about sexuality placed him at odds with the Catholic Church, of which he was a member, long before the posthumous revelation that he was an incestuous paedophile. He bragged that God had placed him on earth to produce his objects of beauty. What, then, does one do with the works of art of a man whose creations were to some extent informed by his unsettling beliefs about religion and sexuality? The choice by the BBC of Ariel as its mascot was inspired: here was a spirit that flew through the air like its radio waves. Behind the opposition to the restoration of Prospero and Ariel there is an all-too-familiar intention of cancelling famous people in the past who led unpleasant lives. But we have to recognise the uncomfortable truth that nastiness can stimulate creativity. Richard Wagner's anti-Semitism may have played into the themes of his operas, but there is no denying the enormous power of his music. It is certainly possible to listen to it without sharing his opinions. Christopher Marlowe led a violent life that probably ended at the point of a dagger. Caravaggio may have been a murderer. They both produced extraordinary art. At a less exalted level, Roald Dahl's nastiness generated some of the most popular children's books of the twentieth century, without creating a generation of equally nasty children. We also have to accept that some of the world's greatest monuments were the creation of rulers who robbed, murdered, raped and enslaved, such as Tamerlane, the builder of much of Samarkand, commemorated in one of Marlowe's plays; while the Parthenon, far from being a proclamation of the virtues of democracy, was a celebration of the often brutal Athenian Empire. Gill's undoubted evil does not cancel out the brilliance of his artistic creations. One can admire skill without admiring personality.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Controversial statue outside BBC headquarters now back on display
The BBC has restored a sculpture outside its London headquarters after repairs, acknowledging the controversial history of its creator, Eric Gill. The sculpture portrays Prospero and Ariel from Shakespeare's The Tempest. Gill, a leading sculptor of the 20th century who died in 1940, was revealed in later-published diaries to have sexually abused two of his daughters. Despite the statue's contentious background, the BBC stated that while they do not condone Gill's "abusive behaviour", the artwork has been returned to public display. A protective screen has been installed in front of the sculpture and visitors to London's Broadcasting House, which is a Grade II* listed building, can learn about the history of the building by scanning a QR code. A BBC spokesman said: 'Broadcasting House is a building of historical and cultural significance and has been so for almost a century. The sculpture of Ariel and Prospero – depicted as symbols of broadcasting – is an integral part of it. 'The BBC in no way condones Gill's abusive behaviour, but it draws a line between the actions of Gill and the status of these artworks. 'When the building was subject to serious criminal damage, on two occasions, there were no easy options for addressing the destruction caused. 'Having sought expert advice and opinion, we repaired the facade in line with the building's Grade II* status. 'Additionally, working with Historic England and Westminster City Council, we have installed a protective screen in front of the sculpture to avoid future damage.' Broadcasting House's Grade II* listing means it is a particularly important building of more than special interest, with just under 6% of listed buildings in England holding that status. It is a step higher than Grade II, which denotes a building is of special interest, according to Historic England. The statue has been on display at Broadcasting House since the early 1930s, and the estimated total cost of the restoration and protective work undertaken is just over £500,000. Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: 'We have given advice and guidance to the BBC on their plans to repair the sculpture of Ariel and Prospero by Eric Gill on the Grade II* listed Broadcasting House. 'We recognise that, since details of Gill's abusive behaviours came to light in the late 1980s, he has understandably become a controversial character. 'We welcome the BBC's approach to repairing the sculpture and providing interpretation which explores this complex history. 'This is in line with our approach of encouraging thoughtful, long-lasting and powerful (re)interpretation of contested statues and sites which keeps their physical context but adds new layers of meaning and understanding.' Speaking outside Broadcasting House on Wednesday, where a security guard has been watching over the sculpture, one BBC employee told the PA news agency they had a mixed opinion on the statue. The employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'It's a complicated one isn't it because I love it and I love Gill's work but I'm aware of his history and that I find really difficult. 'I'm really pleased they've put the glass around it because it would have just happened again. They've cleaned it as well, my god it looks amazing. 'So I have mixed feelings about it but I do think it's very beautiful and I'm pleased that they've protected it and didn't remove it.' Passer-by Simon Clemmow, 68, of Cambridgeshire, told PA he was happy the statue had been restored. He said: 'It's great that it's back up. It looks fantastic. I'm in the camp where you separate the art from the person. So obviously I think it's a fantastic thing. 'I do feel angry that someone vandalised it because they should be discussed rather than direct action. I'm all for protest but not things like that.'
The Guardian
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
BBC reinstalls sculpture by paedophile Eric Gill with new protective screen
A controversial sculpture outside the BBC's London headquarters has been put back on display behind a protective screen after being restored, with the corporation saying it in no way condoned the 'abusive behaviour' of its creator. The work by Eric Gill, which depicts Prospero and Ariel from William Shakespeare's The Tempest, had been largely out of view since it was vandalised with a hammer in 2022. There have long been calls for Gill's works to be removed since his diaries revealed he had sexually abused his two eldest daughters. The BBC said it had taken advice before restoring the sculpture that adorns Broadcasting House, while visitors can now scan a QR code near the building to understand the dark background of the sculpture's creator. Gill's statue was carved on-site for Broadcasting House in 1931 and 1932, underlining his status as one of the most prominent sculptors of the early 20th century. However, private diaries published several decades after his death in 1940 revealed his history of sexual abuse. As well as the abuse of his daughters, they also documented sexual activity with the family dog. His statues, particularly his Broadcasting House work, have become a focus of attention for the hard right, including Tommy Robinson and the conspiracy group QAnon. Broadcasting House is a Grade II* listed building, meaning it is of special interest. The cost of restoration and protective work was just over £500,000. 'Broadcasting House is a building of historical and cultural significance and has been so for almost a century,' a BBC spokesperson said. 'The sculpture of Ariel and Prospero – depicted as symbols of broadcasting – is an integral part of it.' They added: 'The BBC in no way condones Gill's abusive behaviour, but it draws a line between the actions of Gill and the status of these artworks. When the building was subject to serious criminal damage, on two occasions, there were no easy options for addressing the destruction caused.'Having sought expert advice and opinion, we repaired the facade in line with the building's Grade II* status. Additionally, working with Historic England and Westminster city council, we have installed a protective screen in front of the sculpture to avoid future damage.' Duncan Wilson, the chief executive of Historic England, said his organisation had advised the BBC on the work. 'We recognise that, since details of Gill's abusive behaviours came to light in the late 1980s, he has understandably become a controversial character,' he said. 'We welcome the BBC's approach to repairing the sculpture and providing interpretation which explores this complex history.'
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Controversial statue outside BBC headquarters goes back on display
A controversial sculpture outside the BBC's London headquarters has been repaired and is back on display, with the corporation saying it does not condone the artist's 'abusive behaviour'. The sculpture, which depicts Prospero and Ariel from William Shakespeare's play The Tempest, was created by Eric Gill, who is said to have sexually abused two of his daughters. Gill was among the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century until his death in 1940, but his diaries, published much later, detailed the sexual abuse of his daughters. A protective screen has been installed in front of the sculpture and visitors to London's Broadcasting House, which is a Grade II* listed building, can learn about the history of the building by scanning a QR code. A BBC spokesman said: 'Broadcasting House is a building of historical and cultural significance and has been so for almost a century. The sculpture of Ariel and Prospero – depicted as symbols of broadcasting – is an integral part of it. 'The BBC in no way condones Gill's abusive behaviour, but it draws a line between the actions of Gill and the status of these artworks. 'When the building was subject to serious criminal damage, on two occasions, there were no easy options for addressing the destruction caused. 'Having sought expert advice and opinion, we repaired the facade in line with the building's Grade II* status. 'Additionally, working with Historic England and Westminster City Council, we have installed a protective screen in front of the sculpture to avoid future damage.' Broadcasting House's Grade II* listing means it is a particularly important building of more than special interest, with just under 6% of listed buildings in England holding that status. It is a step higher than Grade II, which denotes a building is of special interest, according to Historic England. The statue has been on display at Broadcasting House since the early 1930s, and the estimated total cost of the restoration and protective work undertaken is just over £500,000. Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: 'We have given advice and guidance to the BBC on their plans to repair the sculpture of Ariel and Prospero by Eric Gill on the Grade II* listed Broadcasting House. 'We recognise that, since details of Gill's abusive behaviours came to light in the late 1980s, he has understandably become a controversial character. 'We welcome the BBC's approach to repairing the sculpture and providing interpretation which explores this complex history. 'This is in line with our approach of encouraging thoughtful, long-lasting and powerful (re)interpretation of contested statues and sites which keeps their physical context but adds new layers of meaning and understanding.' Speaking outside Broadcasting House on Wednesday, where a security guard has been watching over the sculpture, one BBC employee told the PA news agency they had a mixed opinion on the statue. The employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'It's a complicated one isn't it because I love it and I love Gill's work but I'm aware of his history and that I find really difficult. 'I'm really pleased they've put the glass around it because it would have just happened again. They've cleaned it as well, my god it looks amazing. 'So I have mixed feelings about it but I do think it's very beautiful and I'm pleased that they've protected it and didn't remove it.' Passer-by Simon Clemmow, 68, of Cambridgeshire, told PA he was happy the statue had been restored. He said: 'It's great that it's back up. It looks fantastic. I'm in the camp where you separate the art from the person. So obviously I think it's a fantastic thing. 'I do feel angry that someone vandalised it because they should be discussed rather than direct action. I'm all for protest but not things like that.'
