20060211 Reflections (Diana’s Memorial)

Title:-   20060211 Reflections (Diana’s Memorial)     Author:-    Sue Clarke    

Subject:-   Reflections (Diana’s Memorial)  

Location:-   Hyde Park, London     Date:-    11 February 2006    Time:-    N/A  

 Media:-   MiniDV, DVD      Duration:-   10 Mins  

A Description of Dianna's Memorial

This is it,

Conspicuous by it’s absence.

Although it weighs 700 tonnes

And covers the area of a football pitch 210 metres in circumference.

It is not an object of grandeur

Put on a high plinth

To be looked up to in admiration.

Rather, it is like an open room

Inviting everyone of all ages to enter.

Constantly moving water

Expresses the life of Diana, Princess of Wales

As it flows in myriad ways.

We can walk into it,

Around it,

Touch it

Be part of it

And let it touch us.

It is a memorial fountain

We can enter

And in which we can feel at home.

It is much more than something static to look at.

Here we are, on the South bank of the Serpentine

In the remotest part of London’s Hyde Park

This was one of Diana’s favourite walks.

High on the bank the fountain’s water starts it’s journey

Moving in two directions, east and west

On two branches that eventually meet again

At the bottom

The whole fountain forms a large oval shape,

With a grass island in the middle.

There are three foot-bridges onto the island.

Diana, Princess of Wales died on Sunday, 31 August 1997

following a car crash in Paris

There was widespread public mourning

At the death of this popular figure,

And at her funeral in Westminster Abbey

On Saturday, 6 September 1997.

Even after her death, however,

The Princess’s work lives on

In the form of charities she supported

And projects set up

To help those in need.

Following the decision to build a memorial

The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain Committee

Was formed and

Was led by the princess’s friend Rosa Monckton

After a competition,

In 2002 it finally selected

Kathryn Gustafson’s design

From 10,000 others.

The design was based upon Diana’s qualities

of Inclusiveness and Accessibility

Contrasting halves reflect parts of Diana’s life

- the joyous times

but also the turmoil she experienced

One side of the fountain

sees water bubbling down a gentle slope

While the other stream

Tumbles and cascades

Before both paths flow into a tranquil pool.

The fountain was built with

545 pieces of Cornish granite.

Each piece was transported to

the County Down mountains,

Northern Ireland

And carved by the latest

Computer control machinery

At McConnell and Sons

In Kilkeel,

The process uses

the most advanced

stonecutting facilities

in Europe.

It took 32 weeks to complete

A job that would have taken "forever"

Using traditional stonemasonry.

The pieces were then transported

To Hyde Park, London

Where they were assembled

As she unveiled the fountain on 6 July 2004

The queen described Princess Diana as

a "remarkable human being"

She acknowledged the "difficult times" in Diana’s life:-

"By any standards

Diana’s tragic death

Held the attention of the nation"

She paid tribute to Diana’s ability

"not only to touch peoples lives but to change them".

(A) The west side of the fountain

sees the water gently bubbling

along a narrow channel with subtle jets

As it continues towards the pool at the end

The channel widens

Until a tumbling cascade of white water

Falls over a waterfall

(B) Down the east side

The water flows down steps

Where water jets make it bounce and jump

It then enters an area carved

so the water rolls along a subtle curve

just before a crossing point.

After the crossing,

The water picks up momentum

Before entering a sharp curve

And ending in a large calm pool

Both sides of the fountain spill

Into a reflective basin

Where special texturing

Makes the surface of the water

Come alive.

Annual maintenance is required

Every November when it causes least disruption to the public

It includes re-turfing, clearing leaves, cleaning the pumps

And cleaning the granite.

Script 5 Feb 06

Produced 11 Feb 06