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A RUSSIAN TANK IN LONDON
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Look at any book or webpage about unusual sights in London and this one is almost certain to be there.
In fact, I think all respectable publications have ceased calling it "Hidden" or "Unexpected" Nevertheless, it was certainly far too good a photo opportunity to miss and the accompanying story is of some interest if perhaps of a mixture of myth and fact. |
What is certain is that a gentleman named Russell Gray bought a Russian T-34-85 battle tank for GBP 7,000 in 1995 and placed it on a piece of "derelict" land he owned between Mandela Way and Pages Walk in Bermondsey, London
The tank was said to have originally been built in Russia and somehow found it's way, via what is now the Czech Republic to a film company in London, who had used it in a rather surreal version of Richard III set in a fascist 1930's UK.
According to the Evening Standard, the tank had been part of the Soviet suppression of the Prague Spring revolution of 1968.
Interesting but I wonder how they know this for sure.
What makes the story of this tank more unusual is the background to the purchase and location.
The story is that Mr Gray had been refused planning permission to build on this piece of land and by way of "revenge", applied to put a "tank" on the property, received permission and placed it there with the gun barrel pointing at the Southwark Council offices who had dismissed his original plans.
It has been reported that he did not specify that this was a battle tank and that the local council thought he meant a septic tank.
I did read somewhere that the council would not confirm this story and claimed that no such request for a "tank" had been received.
(I have no right or evidence to question the septic tank story but it seems odd to me that it could have happened this way as, in my limited experience, Mr Gray would have had to supply drawings of any tank ( of any kind) he wanted to place on the land.)
The story that the gun was deliberately left "threatening" the council offices seems to have come from Mr Gray's neighbours and I do not know if he ever confirmed or supported this story.
The story is that Mr Gray had been refused planning permission to build on this piece of land and by way of "revenge", applied to put a "tank" on the property, received permission and placed it there with the gun barrel pointing at the Southwark Council offices who had dismissed his original plans.
It has been reported that he did not specify that this was a battle tank and that the local council thought he meant a septic tank.
I did read somewhere that the council would not confirm this story and claimed that no such request for a "tank" had been received.
(I have no right or evidence to question the septic tank story but it seems odd to me that it could have happened this way as, in my limited experience, Mr Gray would have had to supply drawings of any tank ( of any kind) he wanted to place on the land.)
The story that the gun was deliberately left "threatening" the council offices seems to have come from Mr Gray's neighbours and I do not know if he ever confirmed or supported this story.
I did make a very quick examination of the gun's direction and the location of the council offices as of today.
If you look at the diagram, the offices (City Hall) seem to be almost directly North of the tank whereas the the gun points more in a NorthWest direction ( as checked and found on satellite images).
I must say that this was not a full investigation and, for all I know, the planning offices were located elsewhere at that time... perhaps someone else has conducted a more thorough check on this point
Over the years, the tank has been repainted several times by well-known artists.
(This image of past appearances is acknowledged as being taken from Wikipedia)
I must say that I rather like the large eye motif evident today !
By all accounts, Mr Russell Gray was not someone to be "bullied" by authority and believed in what might be termed " fighting his corner"
In 2005, he again enjoyed a moment of fame when he took the prestigeous Marlborough College to court for expelling his son, Rhys.
By all accounts, it must have been an interesting event since, on the one hand, the school could point to 200+ disciplinary infringements within a single school year ( that means on average once every day of term.).
However, on the other hand, the offences were mainly somewhat trivial like being late for class or drinking beer!
At the end of the day, the establishment won and Mr Gray lost, the whole sorry affair was said to have cost him more than GBP 200,000.
I would love to know more about this fascinating father and son if anyone has later or additional insight/stories
In 2005, he again enjoyed a moment of fame when he took the prestigeous Marlborough College to court for expelling his son, Rhys.
By all accounts, it must have been an interesting event since, on the one hand, the school could point to 200+ disciplinary infringements within a single school year ( that means on average once every day of term.).
However, on the other hand, the offences were mainly somewhat trivial like being late for class or drinking beer!
At the end of the day, the establishment won and Mr Gray lost, the whole sorry affair was said to have cost him more than GBP 200,000.
I would love to know more about this fascinating father and son if anyone has later or additional insight/stories
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