Katie Butler

The sculptor James Butler was inspired to create this statue, entitled Skipping Katie, while watching his daughter skipping in their garden. He submitted the sculpture for a public art work competition to celebrate the opening of a new pedestrianised area at St Ann’s Road, Harrow and won the commission. Butler later said of the sculpture that it was ‘one of my favourite pieces because of the sentimental value’ since it depicted the eldest of his five daughters, Kate.

Butler made twenty bronze reductions of the statue ten 12-inch high and ten six-inch high, which Harrow Heritage Trust auctioned to raise funds for other art works in the borough.

A further full-size bronze version of the same date, 1987, entitled Skipping Girl, is in Monte Palace Gardens at Funchal in Madeira, Portugal.

Skipping Katie was unveiled in 1987 by Councillor Miss Christine Bednell, Mayor of Harrow and and Monsieur Jacques Vernier, Mayor of Douai. Harrow was twinned with Douai in France in 1979.

Location: St Ann's Road, Harrow, HA1 2AD