Bust is back in place after £30k revamp
A £30,000 upgrade of a memorial to a famous Black Country family which was wrecked by metal thieves has been completed – 11 years after it was first attacked.
Thugs stole the bronze bust of glass manufacturer Sir James Chance from its plinth in West Smethwick Park. It has been left empty ever since. Then in 2006 they struck again, stealing the bronze plaque, just hours before family members and a TV crew turned up to film a documentary about the family, which ran glassworks Chance Brothers & Co in Smethwick.
Now a resin replica bust has finally been erected in its place, after a decade of "blood, sweat and tears".
Graham Price, aged 68, from the Friends of West Smethwick Park group, said: "We're over the moon.
"It's been a long time but I finally feel like we are putting back some of the history to the area.
"This is a grade II listed monument and I'm pleased it looks like one again, it's taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears."
The historic memorial is dedicated to the world famous manufacturer James Chance, who donated the park to the people of Smethwick in 1875.
Bricks which had been chipped away by vandals have now been repaired and the plaque taken three years ago has been replaced by one made out of slate.
The magnificent bust, which looks like bronze but is made from resin to deter metal thieves, is now back in its rightful place as the centre piece.
Bob Evetts, 60, lives in the park lodge and is the chairman of the Friends' group, added: "It's just lovely to have it all finished.
"People have invested a lot of time into getting it all back. There is a big fence around it now, and even if people do get inside, there's no metal to steal."
Council bosses were left red faced when the plaque was stolen, only 48 hours before Toby Chance, Sir James' great great grandson, and a film crew were due to arrive from South Africa to include it in a documentary about the family, who were among the largest employers in Black Country.
Councillor Linda Horton, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: "We will be organising an event to celebrate the restoration and will be inviting Sir Jeremy Chance back to unveil it."
The date is still to be set.
