My Children

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“My Children” by Allister Bowtell, 2002
Duke of York Square
London, September 2016

“Allister Bowtell, who has died of prostate cancer aged 66, was a fine sculptor, an exuberant model maker for television and films, and a larger than life character. He was a former chairman of Chelsea Arts Club - one of the few to be hauled before his own disciplinary committee - a leading light of the London Sketch Club and vice-president of the Vesta Rowing Club. His best-known recent work was the bronze sculpture of two children playing, commissioned by the Cadogan Estate for the Sloane Square refurbishment in London. He made the statues of Melpomene and Euterpe for Oxford's Bodleian Library. In contrast, for television he made models for Dr Who, including the original cybermen, and an edible bunch of flowers for Benny Hill. He made Rod Hull's emu, and Tweedledum and Tweedledee for Jonathan Miller's Alice. He made props for Monty Python and The Goodies, and body moulds for The Joys of Sex. He made a giant pack of Bubblicious chewing gum that blew enormous bubbles for a TV commercial. When he was asked for a model of a drowned man, he naturally wanted to river-test it. Before long, a concerned citizen called the police, doubtless reporting that the dead man's friends were being callously irresponsible. According to legend, three policemen arrived, the most senior of whom said, ‘It's all right, it's that bugger Bowtell again,’ and went on their way.” (Allister Bowtell, The Guardian)