Betjeman sculptor to turn his hand to Larkin's Paragon

COMMUTERS dashing for trains at Hull’s Paragon Station will soon find themselves in a race with one of England’s greatest poets.

A 7ft bronze statue of Philip Larkin is to be erected on the concourse between the platforms and the rear entrance of the Royal Station Hotel.

The figure will capture the former Hull University librarian heading towards the trains at a brisk pace, clutching a trilby hat, with a manuscript tucked under his arm, his gabardine mac blowing in his wake.

If site is suitable and enough money can be raised, the sculpture should be unveiled on December 2, the 25th anniversary of his death.

The bronze will be created by sculptor Martin Jennings, who created a similar monument at the splendidly refurbished St Pancras Station in London – honouring former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman.

“I'm absolutely delighted to have been commissioned to make this sculpture of one of Britain's greatest poets,” Mr Jennings said.

“Philip Larkin found his natural home in Hull and his name will forever be linked to the city. Erecting a statue of him here will reinforce this.”

The statue aims to evoke subtle echoes of the Betjeman bronze and will be of similar size.

The two poets had a warm relationship and both featured in the BBC Monitor film of 1964, in which Betjeman came to Hull to interview Larkin.

In 1984, Larkin was offered the chance to succeed Betjeman as poet laureate but declined because of the high public profile and attention the role attracts.

Larkin’s reputation has soared since his death, and he is now considered among the three or four great poets of the 20th century in English, alongside TS Eliot and WB Yeats.

Paragon station and journeys to and from it were a rich source of inspiration for the Coventry-born poet, who had a 30-year career as university librarian in Hull.

He often felt invigorated when returning to the city, and wrote: “When your train comes to rest in Paragon Station against a row of docile buffers, you alight with an end-of-the-line sense of freedom”.

The statue will be the culmination of a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of Larkin’s death.