News

Nov 12, 2023

Headington Shark topper on Oxford postbox disappears

A knitted version of the Headington Shark on a postbox close to the Oxford rooftop sculpture has gone missing. Created by Headington resident Jennifer Harper, the postbox topper appeared a few days

A knitted version of the Headington Shark on a postbox close to the Oxford rooftop sculpture has gone missing.

Created by Headington resident Jennifer Harper, the postbox topper appeared a few days ago outside the Royal Standard Pub in New High Street.

The real Headington Shark - a 25ft (7.6m) fibreglass sculpture - can be seen a few metres down the street.

Mrs Harper said it was "quite a compliment to have someone actually like it" so much they removed it.

She added: "If anybody does know where it is, I think it would be really cool if it popped up somewhere else in Headington."

Mrs Harper, who works at the Woolhound shop in the city's Covered Market, installed the shark on New Year's Day hoping it would be a "bit of fun for the neighbours".

She said: "My plan was to sneak out before it was light, but as I needed a hand setting it up, I had to take my husband with me.

"This meant our two small kids had to come too, so we probably weren't as covert as I'd hoped."

The original Headington Shark depicts a shark apparently crashing into the roof of a house.

Designed by sculptor John Buckley and constructed by Anton Castiau in 1986, the shark was commissioned by the property's owner, radio presenter Bill Heine, who died in 2019.

The house is now let as a holiday home.

The postbox topper is among thousands that have been appearing around the UK as part of the growing trend for yarn-bombing - the art of decorating street furniture with custom-made knitted or crocheted decorations.

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