Nelson The Sailor

Here’s a picture of three historical Norfolk heavyweights: Horatio Nelson, Edith Cavell and, erm, Stephen Fry.

These steel figures were erected outside Norwich station in 2013. When the BBC reported on them, their headline was ‘Stephen Fry figure unveiled in Norwich’. Nelson and Cavell were bit-part players.

Now, I do like Stephen Fry, but, eleven years on, it’s odd to see him sharing rank with Horatio Nelson and Edith Cavell. Visitors must do a double take when they see this unlikely trio consisting of two historical stalwarts with a modern celeb plonked in the middle. It’s a bit like seeing the Duke of Wellington and Jane Austen cosied up either side of a Chuckle Brother.

Fry’s inclusion in this triumvirate is telling of how we value celebrities. It also says something about fame’s transitory nature. I’m not saying Stephen Fry is yesterday’s news, but his ubiquitousness is nothing like it was in 2013. Would Fry make a shortlist of three Norfolk icons in 2024? Who knows? I would fancy Nelson and Cavell’s chances of making it, however.

The rusted statues are now obscured by a bike stand. There’s probably a metaphor or something clever to be said about that. But that kind of thing is best left to the pros.