Will the Real Betty Boothroyd Please Stand Up?

The Right Honourable Baroness of Sandwell Betty Boothroyd, the former speaker of the House of Commons and current Chancellor of the Open University, will be joined by the Right Honourable Sir Edward Heath MP and other distinguished guests at a ceremony to unveil a sculpture of herself.

Guests will see Baroness Boothroyd in triplicate. She will be there in the flesh, alongside the bronze sculpture and a parallax model made from onyx that creates the illusion of movement as you move around it.

Baroness Boothroyds sculpture is part of a series of works by the widely acclaimed sculptress Shenda Amerey. The busts are part a collection entitled Women who have Made a Difference, and Baroness Boothroyd joins a group of eminent political and public figures such as Mo Mowlan, Cherie Booth QC, Lady Thatcher, Kate Adie, Olga Stalin and Queen Noor of Jordan, who all feature in the collection.

The sittings for the pieces of artwork took place at Baroness Boothroyds home. Shenda said:

She was very professional and sat confidently. Her commanding yet lively presence was an inspiration for all the busts. She is very delighted with the end product.

Shenda has created three busts, two of which will be unveiled at the Open University and the third which befittingly graces the foyer of the new MPs offices at Portcullis House, Westminster.

Baroness Boothroyd, who has been Chancellor of the Open University since 1994 said:

The OU occupies a unique place in the academic world and in our national life, I am proud to be Chancellor and honoured that my sculpture has a home at the OU.

Note

Baroness Boothroyd will unveil two sculptures of herself at the Open University, Milton Keynes, on Friday May 20. The reception and unveiling will take place between 6pm and 8pm in the Berrill Building.

Contact details:

Eulina Clairmont

Open University Media Relations

01908 653248