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Hi Michel, Yes down here on the Essex/Suffolk boarder it would be a bit of a trek. Hope you like the “new” bust. I personally think it’s a better likeness than the original, a few more years experience shows. Still hoping to get this cast as a true Bronze for Leeds or one of Jake’s other haunts.
Hello Paul and John, good to hear from you again. The sculpt of the second bust is now ready for moulding, which I hope to get underway in the next week or two. I’ve written to a few people and places that I thought might be interested in giving the bust a home. BBC radio Leeds, The Yorkshire Post as apparently Jake used to write a column for them. The Black Swan, which it turns out has been closed to about two years, and Lisa Tarbuck, as she occasionally plays him on her show. I’ve asked her, and Liz Green at radio Leeds to please mention it on their shows, to get suggestions for a suitable site and also try to raise some funds for casting. I haven’t heard back from anyone yet. I’ve had one quote to do the foundry casting and patination, which came in at just under £1000. Paul I’ll email you regarding the other project.
Hello John and Paul,(Ringo couldn’t make it) I was thinking along the lines of gallery’s, museums, even town parks or public gardens, maybe a zoo(Brother Gorilla) The pub where Jake used to drink, does Monmouth have a Market Square witha quiet corner, or other local landmarks where jake would frequent. I think If I could get some publicity, maybe on Lisa Tarbucks radio programme, as she still plays his songs occasionally, raising some funds, or someone suggesting a site, might happen.
Hi John, I have a couple of ideas, but need to do some research. goodluck with your performance in October. I’ll keep you posted regarding progress of the new bust.
All the best, Rob.Hello Paul, I’m not sure which theatre it’s going to, The Savoy or the Blake, I’ll find out from John. Glad you like the new version, I think it’s a better likeness. I would be very keen to get together with John and yourself to see if there’s anyway we could fund a true bronze version. It would certainly fulfil a dream of mine to actually have something cast at last. I would need to make sure that his family are involved and happy to proceed with the idea. I probably need another week or so to get the sculpting finished, then mould making, and casting. I’ll keep you posted with the progress.
All the best, Rob.Hello Paul, not sure if ypou’re still following this story, but it turns out John Watterson bought the bust when The Blacksmith and Toffee Maker closed, and has subsequently, and very kindly donated it to a theatre in Monmouth. I’m about 75% towards finishing the new bust of Jake, which I personally am much happier with than the original. a few more years experience makes all the diference. I would truly love to see this cast in Bronze and sighted somewhere that meant something to Jake. To find out that he ended his life as a bankrupt alcaholic almost forgotten about when France has done so much more. I can produce a mould and a resin/bronze version of this latest bust, but to go to true bronze requires serious money. I know Lisa Tarbuck has championed Jake on her show, and the now in discrace Danny Baker, whether they would get behind a proper memorial I’m not sure. Anyway here are a couple of photos of the new bust as it is presently.
Hello John, very sorry for the slow reply, ageing inlaws with a plumbing problem to sort asap. Anyway, Rob Pewsey from Suffolk? yes that’s me, but not the one described on wikepedia. God knows how many people with the same name they’ve got mixed up there.I’ll message you through your private email address with some info tomorrow. hope that’s ok. All the best, Rob
Hello John, great to hear from you, and what an extraordinally generous thing to do. really pleased to hear that it found a good home after The Blacksmith and Toffee Maker closed, and that Jakes family were happy. You’ve probably read my previous posts on the bust Paul, so you’ll be aware that I wanted to have another go at sculpting Jake, as I really believe he is almost totally unknown outside of his band of loyal fans. I’m about 75% of the way there with the new sculpt, it’s life-size again but without the shoulders and plynth, which I hope should significantly reduce the amount of expensive bronze required, if it were ever to be cast. I can produce “cold-cast” (bronze/resin same as the one you have) at home, but true bronze is so much nicer and more durable. I’ll endever to upload a photo of the new clay bust.
Hello Paul, no worries about the late reply and thanks for the comments about the bust and plaque. I realise this is all hyperthetical so don’t worry if at the end of the day you don’t want to take it any further, I quite understand. to do the plaque idea, should be fairly easy as I have th front half of the mould. casting from it in plaster of Paris, tidying up that casting, mounting it on a backing plate, then recasting in bronze/resin with lettering, probably around £350-£400. To resculpt from scratch, make a mould, and then cast in Bronze resin. I would ask £800. I know a few years ago when I enquired about having it cast in bronze it would bave cost over £2000. Thats just to have it cast and finished off. after I supplied a wax version. bronze casting is frighteningly expensive. If you like, I will have another go at producing a life-size bust, and you can decide when it’s done whether you want to go any further with the idea. I’m a self employed decorator/handyman, and often have days I can’t work due to an on going back problem. Absolutley no obligation on your part. All the best, Rob.(Ned)
hello Paul, sorry for the slow reply, had to wait for my daughter to help me upload this picture, and still not sure if it’s worked. Anyway. The back half of the Jake mould went to the local tip after being damaged during a shed clearout. I still have the front half and was considering making a wall plaque, as I did with a bust of Marc Bolan, hence the photo. I too feel there should be something to commemorate Jake, which was why I made the bust in the first place. Another mould could be made from the casting that went to the Blacksmith pub, but I wouldn’t mind having another go at making it from scatch. possibly just the head, collar and suggestion of his shirt, on a nice wood or stone plynth. If nothing happens to remember him by, he will I’m sure be forgotten.
Hello Paul, I didn’t know the pub had closed, last thing I read about it was they were concentrating on becoming a vegan gastro pub. As for the bust, I would also be interested to know what happened to it. I visited the place a couple of months after delivering the bust, expecting to see it somewhere in the bar, and was told, ” it’s upstairs, not sure what we’re doing with it yet” which was a bit of a let down, after they were so keen to have it. I don’t have the mould anymore, as I tried several places that I thought might be interested in having a bust, including Monmouth, and the pub in the town where Jake was a regular, but I didn’t hear anything back, so gave up on the idea. The casting in the photo is the only one that exists. Good luck trying to track it down.
A professional sculptor!!! Man you are living my dream I work 3 shifts in a shitty factory making flavours for crisps!! Thankyou for your kind words, post some pictures of your work. Having travelled a little in France I know they value and encourage sculpture much more than in the UK.
Thanks again. Rob.Hello David,
Thankyou for your comment, There hasn’t been any more communication between Debbie and me since that last post, So I’m not sure whether the “idea” is still alive. However, if you’re anywhere near London, the cold cast bust you’ve seen pictures of is at The Blacksmith and Toffee maker pub, in Islington. Matt who runs the place, is hoping to have it on display very soon, just awaiting a big enough shelf to take it. If you speak to him nicely, I’m sure he would let any fans see it.
Thanks again, and keep your fingers crossed for the Monmouth gig.
Cheers Rob.Hi Pam,
Thankyou, The bust in the photo is sitting here. If someone can use it, then I’m pleased for them to have it.
Obviously I would like to cover the cost of making it, but would consider loaning it out for events like “Jake fest”.
I made this one to give prospective customers a better idea of how the foundry cast Bronze would look. I’m pleased to say that Monmouth are planning a “music trail” with a bronze Jake at the end of it. This is still in the very early stages of planning at the moment, and nothing definate.
Thank you again for your kind comments.
All the best, Ned.Hello Matt, Sorry I can’t help you with the News paper story. But I wonder whether you would like the life size bust of Jake that I’ve made for your pub. It’s Bronze/Resin, so could be set up indoors or out. and would hope fully generate a bit of interest in Jake among your customers. Pictures of the bust are already on this forum, but to save you hunting around. I’ll post one again.
I’ts just an idea, don’t worry if your not interested.
All the best, Ned
