Angel of the Fens – Jubilee alternative to Angel of the North  

He once dressed as an ostrich and walked backwards around the village, but then Haddenham has 90 years to become familiar with well-loved farmer Robert Norman.  

Mr Norman decided what Haddenham needed to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee were some old ladders, a disused bath and hessian provided the answer.

 Gathering up a ‘fan base’ of villagers, he helped to create what’s become known as the ‘Angel of the Fens’, on Northey Hill. 

Villagers can see the fruits of his – and others- labour from the road as the lovingly constructed answer to Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North stands proudly on a hill. 

Head into the village on the A1123 from Earith and the Angel of the Fens can be seen from the roadside. 

“We used some redundant fruit picking ladders to start off with,” he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, adding that ladders are no longer used for picking apples and plums.  

Next up, said Robert, was to find some hessian and then he used the side of an old bath to help shape the Monarch's head.  

“I’m quite pleased it works and doesn’t fall down - I think villagers approve,” he said. 

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“I must have done something right.”