Sculptor James Butler: Sir Jack Hayward statue was worth the hard work
James Butler looks back at the monument that depicts Sir Jack’s famous thumbs up pose from that play-off final victory in 2003.
Because Mr Butler was man who brought Sir Jack Hayward’s statue to life.
Standing in front of the stand that bears his name, the 10ft statue was two years in the making, cost £250,000 and was originally produced in clay by Mr Butler before being moved to the Lockbund Foundry in Oxfordshire where it was turned into a bronze statue.
The club worked closely with Mr Butler and Sir Jack’s family to create the lasting tribute to the former owner that stands proudly in front if the Sir Jack Hayward stand.
Mr Butler said: “He was my creation and I’m so happy with the finished product. It took a long time to put together and it was important to talk to his family and friends and get their suggestions to make it the best it can be.
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“They’ve all been fantastic to work with and I hope they’re happy with it most of all.
“I knew Jack quite well and met him on a number of occasions and I really studied him to try and get it right but Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint helped me in the early stages to get the right depiction of him.
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“The thumbs up pose was particularly difficult to get right as the motion of it is tough to recreate but it’s an iconic pose for him and it had to be done and it turned out great.
“The statue wouldn’t have been right if we didn’t have this pose, it was worth all the hard work.”
The 87-year-old sculptor was also pivotal in making the Billy Wright and Stan Cullis statues that also stand outside Molineux.
Mr Butler added: “I am only too pleased I was chosen to put together the final piece of Sir Jack’s legacy.
“Especially after helping with the other two statues already at Molineux, I’m so happy to have played a big part in this one too. I’m so proud, it was a joint effort between myself and those at the Lockbund Foundry and it’s turned out great.”
