Artist’s delight as Wilfred Owen bust finds a home after ten years

Jul 6 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

A BUST of war poet Wilfred Owen which lay unwanted in a garage for ten years has finally found a home.

Artist and museum worker Jim Whelan was inspired to create the cast cold resin piece after learning more about Owen and his experiences in the First World War.

But he was unable to find anywhere to display it until the opening of the Wilfred Owen Story in Argyle Street, Birkenhead earlier this year.

The bronze-look bust has now taken pride of place at the museum and gallery – the world’s first permanent exhibition dedicated to the poet.

Owen lived in Birkenhead between the ages of four and 14 and was a pupil at the Birkenhead Institute.

He was killed a week before Armistice Day but became one of the most celebrated of the war poets.

Mr Whelan, 45, from Prenton, said: “A long time ago I was commissioned to build a life-sized First World War trench scene and that got me interested – it completely changed my views on Wilfred Owen.

“I had the usual opinion that he was a good poet but not a great fighter but from what I can gather, in fact he was a real soldier’s soldier.

“He was allowed to come home for a couple of months but he went back out to the trenches out of loyalty to his men.”

Mr Whelan, who helped paint the Wilfred Owen stained glass window in Birkenhead Central Library, said he was pleased the bust had finally found a home.

He said: “It’s nice to see it free of dust and on public display after so many years hidden away in my garage.

“It’s ironic that I work in a museum and I couldn’t get anyone to take it.

“I think it’s something we really need to address. You go anywhere else and people know all about Wilfred Owen but not in Wirral. I believe we’ve let him down.”

Mr Whelan said he hopes to eventually make a bronze, life-sized full-size statue of the war poet.

Dean Johnson, who opened the Wilfred Owen Story in March, told the News he was delighted with the new addition to the gallery.

He said: “Jim couldn’t get it shown anywhere and nobody was really interested but when he approached us we were happy to have it.

“It’s a really brilliant likeness and we’re made up it’s found a home.”

The Wilfred Owen Story opens from 11am to 2pm, Tuesday to Friday (plus special events on Saturdays). Admission is free.