The BNTVA were recently contacted by Warren Harper and Gabriella Hirst of the Old Waterworks, regarding the forced removal of Gabriella's artwork at Gunners Park, Shoeburyness, Essex. "An English Rose" consisted of a small rose garden containing Rosa Floribunda Atom Bomb, cultivated by Reimer Kordes in 1953, a row of white irises to symbolise the HMS Plym sailing for the first British atomic test, Operation Hurricane, at the Montebello Islands, past the white cliffs of Dover, park benches and a plaque concerning Operation Hurricane and the legacy of this British test on the people and landscape of Australia.

Councillors James Moyies and Councillor Derek Jarvis demanded the removal of the artwork stating, "It is not a thought-provoking piece…it is a direct far left-wing attack on our History, our People and our Democratically Elected Government, that has no place on Council leased land."

We attach the BNTVA statement.

A group of Conservative councillors have been accused of attempting to ‘whitewash’ history after ordering an artist to amend or remove a piece of artwork referring to Britain as a ‘colonial nuclear state’ from a former military site. 

The English Garden installation at Gunners Park, Shoeburyness, Essex, features the rare Atom Bomb rose and plaques referencing Britain’s current nuclear arsenal and the devastating 1950s-60’s British nuclear tests in Australia.

But a small group of Southend-on-Sea Borough councillors objected to the work and threatened to ‘raise the issue in the media’ if their demands to remove or censor the work were not met within 48 hours.

Australian artist Gabriella Hirst said: “We were given a 48-hour ultimatum to remove the work before the council would intervene to censor the “offending” plaque, also promising to subject the work and associated arts communities to a national media campaign that would frame the work as ‘a direct far left-wing attack on our History, our People and our Democratically Elected Government’. 

“An English Garden aimed to hold space for contemplation of British colonial legacy - an unavoidably complicated legacy which contains such seeming opposites as rose gardens and enduring nuclear violence. I am dismayed that this space has been shut down by those who wish to protect a white-washed, nationalist version of history.“ 

Warren Harper, curator and director of The Old Waterworks, which jointly commissioned the work as part of the Estuary Festival, said he was “shocked, dismayed and incredibly disappointed” by the demands made by Cllr James Moyies, Cllr Tony Cox and Cllr Derek James. 

Warren said: “The councillors made a complaint regarding the content of one of the plaques contained within An English Garden, claiming that it is offensive and its content unpalatable. 

“The councillors set unrealistic ultimatums and deadlines regarding the work’s removal, forcing decisions to be made in such a way that put unnecessary and unfair pressure on all those involved with the work’s production. 

“A demand was made to alter the text contained in the plaque under supervision which undoubtedly would have changed the content and meaning of the artwork, shifting the work’s intentions and putting words into the artist’s mouth. 

“History is not simply a celebratory fanfare, and it is everyone’s right to be able to explore the nuances of this shared history and how it has ongoing impacts today. 

“There has been no positive engagement with the councillors who threatened to play out the dialogue across the media, bypassing all attempts of reasonable discussion.” 

The work, which was installed with permission, had been in place for five weeks before its removal on June 23, with no complaints from local residents. 

The site was chosen as the first British atomic device was assembled in 1952 at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, just six miles away on Foulness Island. 

A British nuclear test veteran who was present at 1956 Operation Mosaic Commonwealth atomic tests at the Montebello Islands led by the British said, “it is just facts that are quoted, and I think the Council are going over the top with their complaint in this respect. I love the garden and would like to have a rose if possible.” 
 

Ceri McDade, chair of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association, said the forced removal of the rose garden ‘horrified’ members of the BNTVA. 

She said: “To us, the rose is relevant to the local area and its history as it is poignant to the 23,000 or so military personnel, scientists and civilians who participated in the atmospheric testing at the Montebello Islands, Emu Field, Maralinga, and Christmas Island. 

“Participation in this testing and the quest for a nuclear deterrent is as relevant to our veterans and their families in 2021 as it was in 1952 and should not be swept under the carpet. 

“As the UK charity for nuclear test veterans and their families, the BNTVA will ensure that this part of history is not forgotten or re-written.” 

The Old Waterworks statement follows:

Monday 12 July 2021 

Public Statement from The Old Waterworks Staff and Board of Trustees 

 
Censorship of An English Garden 

We have been shocked, dismayed and incredibly disappointed by the actions taken by members of Southend’s Conservative Group of Councillors regarding the censorship and ultimate removal of the An English Garden installation situated at Gunners Park, Shoeburyness, commissioned by The Old Waterworks and Metal for Estuary 2021 and due to remain in situ until 31 August 2021. 

 
The councillors made a complaint regarding the content of one of the plaques contained within An English Garden, claiming that it is offensive and its content unpalatable. The councillors set unrealistic ultimatums and deadlines regarding the work’s removal, forcing decisions to be made in such a way that put unnecessary and unfair pressure on all those involved with the work’s production. A demand was made to alter the text contained in the plaque under supervision which undoubtedly would have changed the content and meaning of the artwork, shifting the work’s intentions and putting words into the artist’s mouth. History is not simply a celebratory fanfare and it is everyone’s right to be able to explore the nuances of this shared history and how it has ongoing impacts today.   
 

There has been no positive engagement with the councillors who threatened to play out the dialogue across the media, bypassing all attempts of reasonable discussion. As a result, our co-commissioners, Metal, who hold the site agreement for the installation, ultimately decided that the artwork be removed earlier than anticipated. This was primarily due to ensuring the wellbeing of all those involved in the artwork’s installation and exhibition for Estuary 2021. TOW supports and understands Metal’s position in reaching this decision, however we must also acknowledge that the artist, Gabriella Hirst, disagrees entirely with this action but respects the responsibility Metal has to their staff and communities in these difficult situations. 

How to Make a Bomb, the project of which An English Garden is a part, has been based at The Old Waterworks for nearly three years, during which extensive research has been carried out. The plaque has been informed by this research, additionally demonstrated in an artist book which accompanies the project. We invite Southend’s Conservative Group of Councillors and others to read this and to discuss the project, and its breadth and nuances with us. We have reserved a copy of the book for the group at The Old Waterworks to pick up free of charge.   
 

It was of course not the intent of the work to cause any offence to anyone, particularly residents, but to encourage those that visit the garden to contemplate the complex history of Essex in the UK’s nuclear story, which is very complicated. We believe the comments within the statement sent by Councillor Moyies on behalf of Southend’s Conservative Group of Councillors on Wednesday 23 June grossly misinterpret the artwork and provide inadequate and vague justifications with no satisfactory evidence. Art is meant to spark debate, provoke thought and encourage new ways of seeing the world, it should not be shut down because what it proposes does not align with the views of individuals, particularly when based on extensive research and historical facts. 

 
There have been no other negative responses throughout the duration of the installation that we are aware of with regards to An English Garden. TOW and our partners have welcomed the positive reaction and critical engagement from local residents and the visiting public. 

Metal received all of the required permissions and followed all the necessary procedures for the work to be installed. An artwork should not be threatened with removal and censorship in the way that it was and a sensible, constructive and respectful discussion should have been possible. The Old Waterworks unequivocally stands by the work’s content and in due course will respond to the Southend Group of Conservative Councillors’ statement in detail in order to demonstrate its gaps and inadequacies. 

 
The issues raised and histories evoked by the How to Make a Bomb project have been censored and silenced for so long, many people not even being aware of the extent of the nuclear tests in Australia to which the project refers. Therefore we will continue to seek further opportunities locally and in our public programming to discuss the issues the project raises.