Getting Rammed with Mr D9

Regular readers (yes, all three of you) will know that here on the WME Blog we love a good public art trail - Birmingham's Big Hoot, Wolves in Wolves, Standing Tall with Worcester's Giraffes - so news that a series of ram sculptures have invaded Derby had the Hub Marketing Board on high alert...

- Bee Happy -

Wild in Art in conjunction with Derby Museums have installed thirty imaginative rams across various city centre locations, so on Friday 25th June Chairman D9 and Secretary WME make it their quest to hunt down as many as we can. After catching the 9:49 Cross Country train up from Birmingham, we meet our first ram ('Railway Communities') immediately outside Derby Station and quickly follow that with 'Bee Happy', a bumblebee and honeycomb-infused design near Midland Place. 'Doodle Derby' then features Ayup expressions and Baaaarley the sheep as we approach the Derbion shopping centre (previously known as Westfield). 

- The Secretary meets Captain Stone -

Just outside the mall entrance is 'Captain Stone', a bright pinky-purple superhero-type ram based on a character from a Liam Sharp graphic novel. Also in our sights are 'Rambo' with its Stallone-style bullet belt, 'Royal Ram' on St Peter's Street and the glitterball effect of 'Groovy Derby Ram' in the Marketplace. Some of the rams are inspired by famous artists, most notably 'Ram Gogh' and 'Mondriram' over towards the Jury's Inn complex, whilst others represent Derby's significant historical figures such as 'Nurse Nightingale' complete with references to the Lady of the Lamp.

- The Bald Spot engaged in Huub Marketing -

The midday chimes are ringing out from Derby Cathedral as we pause near the Silk Mill, looking out across the River Derwent in the company of 'Derby Industries', a ram that celebrates local automotive manufacturing. Cathedral Green hosts two rams, one either side of the Bonnie Prince Charlie Statue: 'Secret R.A.M' combines technology with an air of mystery whereas 'Pirate Sheepmate' becomes one of the Secretary's instant favourites thanks to its eyepatch, pet parrot and a hooked hoof. We haven't forgotten our usual brand of sightseeing by the way, hence the D9 bald spot makes sure to admire the Huub Store.

- Come On You Rams -

The Corporation Street and Morledge areas are good locations for some ramspotting: 'Pride in Derby' has the LGBTQ rainbow stripes immediately outside the council offices; 'Flamsteed's Ram' recalls a notable astronomer just over the road; at Millets, 'Arbaaaretum' acknowledges the importance of green spaces to wildlife; and 'Come On You Rams' is kitted out in a mock Derby County home shirt near the River Gardens. Each ram has its own personality and the trail is seemingly proving popular with young families also excitedly doing their selfie rounds; as ever with Wild in Art, the event will raise money for charitable causes in this case the Derby Museums Endowment campaign. 

- Beardsmore Bleach at the Castle & Falcon -

Besides the ram action, Board members are keen to sample a few of Derby's esteemed watering holes. The Secretary's pick is the Old Bell Hotel on Sadler Gate, a characterful coaching inn that entices us with the prospect of Chesterfield armchairs and well-kept Draught Bass. As for the Chairman, his radar is fixed firmly on the opposite end of the pub spectrum... cue the Castle & Falcon, a flat-roofed brown lump next to the Eagle Market. Pop art chimp wallpaper accompanies pints of John Smith's and a 1984 soundtrack focusing on Alison Moyet, Midge Ure and Haircut 100. 

- Commandeering the Ilkeston Flyer -

Leaving the rams in peace for a bit, we take a ride out on the Ilkeston Flyer as operated by Trent Barton (calling at Spondon and Kirk Hallam). Ilkeston is a market town on the River Erewash and is referred to as 'Ilson' in the East Midlands dialect. We alight on Wharncliffe Road so as to explore the Market Place around St Mary's Parish Church; nearby features include the Town Hall plus the Sir John Warren and King's Head pubs. Having savoured a stint of backseat steering on the bus earlier, the Chairman is delighted to discover an old-fashioned closet block inscribed with Gents lettering. 

- The Burnt Pig Ale 'ouse -

Stretching away from the Market Place is Bath Street, a hilly thoroughfare containing some of Ilkeston's less glamorous shops. We venture down as far as Panda Pizza before turning back the way we came, hoping for a perfect pint somewhere. Our wish is granted by the Burnt Pig Ale 'ouse, a micropub tucked away in a former shop unit on Market Street. Not only is the beer excellent - the Secretary's Ludlow Black Knight stout especially so - but the interior is stuffed full of the kind of breweriana Mr D9 loves to collect for his garage. The Prince of Wales on South Street merits its own pub plug as the day's Popmaster setting; sadly Falstaff's Fistful of Hops could not power us to a plethora of points from some fiendish questions.

- For Those About To Rock -

The return Ilkeston Flyer delivers us back to Derby to resume our main ramming mission. We therefore encounter 'Memories Fade but Warmth Remains' (presenting a riot of sunflowers by the bus interchange) and 'For Those About to Rock' (a music festival aficionado in Heavy Metal regalia). In total we found 23 out of 30 rams - not bad for a day's work - and honourable mention should similarly go to 'The Orrery', depicting a clockwork solar system near Derby Cathedral, plus 'Woolly Rammy in sheep's clothing' which guards St Peter's Church. We can therefore consider ourselves to have gotten well and truly rammed!

- Concerned about Carling? -

All that remains is for us to try out a handful more pubs before our train home. Two absolute crackers are the Smithfield and the Alexandra Hotel; the former is by the Notts & Derby bus depot and serves up a particularly nice Liquid Highway whereas the latter is a treasure trove of railwayana that conjures up a magnificent pint of Thornbridge Market Porter. Chairman D9 demands a final nightcap close to the railway station so the Merry Widows gets the nod for a concluding half of Carling amidst a gallery of Derby County legends. Cheers!