Luke Perry's owl sculpture is unveiled at RSPB Sandwell Valley, West Bromwich.

Transcript

00:00OK Frank, Frank Batchelor, so you helped come up with the idea of commissioning this sculpture.

00:07That's right, yes.

00:08Just explain what it was all about, regarding Churchfield School.

00:12Well when the school was demolished in 2001, obviously it was a very sad moment for all the former pupils,

00:20and over that time myself and my wife have done what she's written a book.

00:25We had a commemorative plaque put at the entrance by the developers.

00:29We'd done school reunions, but we always felt there was something needed to be a little more permanent,

00:36something to stand out, more of a showstopper.

00:40So we came up with the idea, or my wife came up with the idea, of a monument.

00:46We got in touch with Commissioner Luke Perry,

00:52who as we know has got some fabulous works around the borough and further afield.

00:57He was happy to come on board.

01:00We explained some of the background to the school, and he came up with the initial idea.

01:06It's wonderful isn't it?

01:07Which we thought was going to be considerably smaller than this actually.

01:12But in Luke's own words, he says, I don't do small.

01:16So what do you think of Luke's work?

01:18Oh it's fabulous, absolutely fabulous. It really is.

01:22I'm sure people will admire it for years to come.

01:24For years to come.

01:25Well he says the galvanising is good for 80 years, so I think it should last us pretty well.

01:32OK Luke, so a bit wet today, but a great unveiling.

01:36Just explain how it feels to have this unveiled today at the Samwell Valley Centre.

01:40I think unveiling this today is not just a big thing for me, but for so many people here.

01:46It's been a long journey to get this piece made,

01:49but it means so very much to so many people who understood the school

01:54to be the beginning of an egalitarian movement for education where everyone can get a chance.

02:00And I think that's one of the joys of being associated with this,

02:03is it was all about equality.

02:06And so this piece is hopefully a message to how we can work in the future as well.

02:14But yeah, it's gone beautifully, and there's so many people turned out,

02:17and it means a lot to them.

02:18Wonderful.