Fountain restoration bid (From Worcester News)

Fountain restoration bid

2:50pm Sunday 29th July 2012 in News

MALVERN Spa Association has moved a step closer to the restoration of an 80-year-old water feature in Malvern Theatres.

Until the theatre complex was rebuilt in the late 1990s, the Jacob Fountain was the centrepiece of the Pump Room – the building’s main foyer.

But since then, the marble and bronze fountain has stood in the corner of the theatre’s restaurant, although the association has long wanted to restore it and place it in a more prominent position.

Now the association has found a celebrated sculptor who is eager to work on the fountain.

Gloucestershire-based Andy Mitchell has previously carried out major restoration work on the Albert Memorial in London and the Port Sunlight war memorial in Liverpool.

He visited Malvern last week and met Ray Roberts, of the association. Dr John Harcup, association chairman, said: “Mr Mitchell has worked on some of the most important landmarks in the country so we were delighted he was so charmed by Jacob’s Fountain and believes it will be possible to safeguard it for the next 10 years.

“The next step is to propose this course of action to the trustees and chief executive at Malvern Theatres who, we hope, will be as delighted as we are.”