Salisbury Cathedral volunteer honoured with 'stunning' falcon statue
Tim Hatton OBE passed away on New Year's Day 2020
A man from Salisbury who received multiple Queen's honours has been remembered with a "stunning" memorial, in the shape of a stainless-steel falcon.
Tim Hatton OBE has had the unique sculpture unveiled in his honour at the city care home where he spent his final years.
A well-known stalwart at Salisbury Cathedral - a role he took on voluntarily for almost two decades - Mr Hatton was also an author and historian, and wrote the book on the history of Salisbury Cathedral, The Man Who Moved a Cathedral.
After his death at the age of 94, on New Year’s Day 2020, his family made a generous donation so that his former care home, Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge, could choose and commission a garden artwork for fellow residents to enjoy.
The result is a stainless-steel falcon, just over life size, mounted on a six-foot oak branch.
As for the meaning behind the sculpture, Colten Care’s Head Gardener Charles Hubberstey explained it has a link to Salisbury Cathedral, where Mr Hatton was a devoted volunteer.
“Lesley and I considered various options carefully,” said Mr Hubberstey.
“We thought of something to do with Salisbury Cathedral and its world-famous spire.
"It’s well known that peregrine falcons have nested on the top of the spire in the past few years, so the idea of a falcon seemed right, especially for a sculpture that was to be sited outdoors and among nature.”
Lymington-based metal artist and sculptor, Michael Turner was commissioned to design and produce the work.
The falcon sculpture was unveiled to a gathering of residents in the lounge before setting it on a plinth in the garden. Its inscription reads: ‘Thank You Tim Hatton’.
Residents, many of whom fondly recall Tim, immediately voiced their approval of what is the first garden sculpture at the home.
Marigold Routh said:
“It’s very beautiful, stunning. The way it is poised on the wood, you feel its eyes are focused on you. I love its curved talons.
"I knew Tim very well and used to see his wife Sarah who was assiduous in visiting him regularly. Tim loved anything to do with the Cathedral and I’m sure he would have loved this sculpture.”
In addition to writing about the Cathedral, Tim Hatton published an autobiography, Tock Tock Birds, charting his military career including spells with the Indian Army and Gurkha Rifles.
Earlier in life, in his 20s, he was a Company Commander during the 1947 partition of the Punjab, helping to escort 100,000 Muslims on foot through hostile Hindu territory to the safety of Pakistan.
He worked in Malaysia between 1948 and 1966 spending time in both the colonial service and as a director of the Malaysian Special Branch.
His distinguished career in the civil service brought him an MBE and an OBE and was followed by a period doing voluntary work in education.
He became a Cathedral guide after retiring to Salisbury in 1994.
In his years as a guide, he mentored dozens of junior colleagues and especially enjoyed acting as an interpreter for foreign visitors.