Reading town centre Cartwheeling Boys sculpture is back

It now stands outside Reading’s Civic Centre at the corner of Bridge Street and Fobney Street, following repairs and relocation three years after it was damaged during Storm Eunice in February 2022.

The sculpture, a gift from Reading’s twin town of Düsseldorf, was installed in 1981 to mark 30 years of friendship between the towns and represents a tradition of children performing cartwheels in celebration.

It originally stood opposite the old council offices on San Francisco Libre Walk until Storm Eunice brought it down.

“The then Mayor of Reading, Councillor Phoebe Cusden, cultivated links with Germany in 1947, and they are still strong today.

“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in keeping the sculpture safe since that terrible storm, those who have worked innovatively to recreate the parts that could not be salvaged, and the team delivering the civic redevelopment.”

She also said that the Reading Düsseldorf Association funded the information board, which will tell people about the history of the sculpture and how it came to be at the Civic Centre.

“I am so pleased to see the Cartwheeling Boys back up on display in Reading, where they deserve to be,” Councillor Terry added.

One of the three figures was damaged in the storm, which recorded England’s strongest ever wind gust of 122mph.

Following the incident, the sculpture was placed in storage while plans for restoration and relocation were developed.

Repairs combined modern computer modelling with traditional sculpting methods, led by The Affable Design Company and AB Fine Art Foundry.

A new frame was constructed by Morgan Sindall, and a crane lifted the figures into place and fixed them to their new home on Wednesday, February 25.

It now forms part of the Civic Centre redevelopment, which includes a new Central Library and improved customer reception funded through government investment.

The council received funding in 2023 to redevelop the Bridge Street council offices, create a bespoke Central Library, and improve the customer reception area.

The new Central Library, which opens this summer, will be accessed through the redesigned reception that opened a month ago.

A rededication ceremony for the sculpture will take place later this year.

The Civic Centre and library projects are part of a wider cultural investment supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.