The Life of Brian’s Statue: What’s New Pussycat?

Brian Clough’s statue in Nottingham muses on his life and what’s happening in the world today…

I know I’ve said this before, but I’ve got a great spot here on Queen Street. I can see right down onto most of Market Square, so I get to see a lot of what’s going on.

And, for company, I’ve got the two stone lions at the steps leading up into the Council building.

Everyone meets up at the left lion; all sorts of people. Y’get yer goths, punks, yer tracksuit mob, everyone. Stag and hen parties meet up there, and they all take photos in front of him. He’s probably had more photos taken of him than me!

Of course, I can only see his back end. Sometimes, in the early hours, I see him swishing his tail around, and I feel like shouting across to him: ‘I have to stand here looking at your backside all day and all night, sunshine, and I don’t want to see any more than what I can already see thank you!’ I’m sure I’ve seen the other lion wink at me a few times, like he knows what I’m thinking…

Both of ’em have been around a lot longer than me. I’m new around here, and it seems like they’ve decided to look out for me. One or two times when someone’s lobbed a bit of rubbish at me late at night,  a growl’s come echoing across from the Square, and scared that person out of their boots – they’ve run off pretty bloody sharpish.

So, I can’t really complain about the fact I have to look at the back end of the left lion. It could be worse. They could have stuck me on a roundabout somewhere like Maid Marian Way, choking on petrol fumes and being blinded by car headlights all night.

So, I’m quite happy where I am, with my two big cats for company, it’s just about purrfect!