Picture of the day: Bulbous Betty bathing in the evening sun by Emma Durnford

By The Editor

7th Oct 2020 | Local News

I have lived in Teddington in the London borough of Richmond for nearly 20 years now. One of my favourite walks with my husband who has lived here all his life, is along the river from Teddington to Richmond and if we are feeling energetic, then up Richmond Hill and back through Richmond Park.

In pre-covid days this had to include a stop for tea and scones at Pembroke Lodge along the way, after 3pm for lashings of jam and cream with freshly baked scones (self service then!).

Moving here from Colliers Wood and Tooting has made me particularity appreciative of the benefits of easy access to not one but two Royal parks, a number of stately homes and the river Thames.

I am a photographer and there are a wealth of places to photograph here, so many places in fact that this gave rise to my idea of creating a range of local greeting and Christmas cards back in 2011. I must be one of the few people who wants it to snow each year to let me increase my range of cards!

This is one of my favourite statues in Richmond – a little more generously proportioned than the Oceanides (aka The Naked Ladies in York House) which is probably why I have some empathy with her!

She is a statue of Aphrodite carved in the Modernist style by sculptor Alan Howe and was positioned in the Terrace Gardens on Richmond Hill in 1952.

At the time she caused a massive controversy due to her full figure and nakedness with no fewer that 84 letters of complaint sent in to the Richmond and Twickenham Times.

One of the derogatory nicknames she was called was 'Bulbous Betty' which is the name that most locals now more affectionately know her as. This was the first time I found her enjoying the evening sun among the flag irises!