Extract from Email from Jan Goodkin, sculptress of Baboon.

I came to the quarry in November 2008 and chose a piece of stone for my carving - developed from an ancient Egyptian carving of a baboon in the British Museum. 
It's now finished and looks much better in 'real life' than the photo!  I am exhibiting it in June 2009.
It's been a treacherous stone to carve but the result is beautiful - so a big thank you for the fabulous piece of stone. The carving experience has been fascinating with all its shells and crystals.  Everyone in the stone yard thinks I'm mad!!

Jan Goodkin
my mobile number  -  07986 989861

Clipsham Stone Sculpture  by Vladimir Pamihov.

My children wanted to give me a memorable 60th birthday present and I asked for a sculpture for the garden made from Clipsham Stone.

It took a while to find a suitable sculptor, but I met Vladimir when we went to Oakham School to look at his pupils’ sculpture work. Vladimir is a sculptor from Bulgaria and teaches at Oakham School in Rutland as well as taking private commissions. My father, Sir David Davenport-Handley, was a Trustee of Oakham School during its change over to independent status and Clipsham House is named in his honour.

Being impressed with his work we began to work together to create the sculpture. I told him that I did not want a ‘grecian goddess’ but something that would show the beauty and shape of the stone as well as have a natural look. He came up with several clay models, which he superimposed onto photographs of my rose garden, where I wanted the finished sculpture to stand. He has been gracious enough to give me those models, which also stand in the garden.

We went to the quarry together to choose a block of stone. It weighed about one tonne.  Our stone stood in the yard outside the sculpture studio, much to the interest of staff and pupils in the school. The sculpture actually is worked with the block on its side, not on the bed as might be recommended. However other sculptors have done the same with Clipsham stone, which is hard enough to withstand normal English weather.

I couldn’t be more thrilled with this work and am grateful to all those who helped its creation, but above all to Vladimir.

Ely Cathedral.
Plinth course of the east end.
East End of Ely Cathedral. Replacement of carved capitals and general stonework.

Wheatsheaf Sculpture

A Hand carved artwork in Clipsham Stone commission For A.B. Agri Ltd, Huntingdon, Cambs  2008, seen here in its final site. 3m high overall.