St Jude’s storm beach ball hero of Old Street speaks out
The beachball after its installation in March - Credit: Archant
A hero of St Jude’s storm who averted potential carnage when a giant beachball broke loose at a busy junction has spoken of his exploits.
Giant beach ball loose at Old Street Roundabout via Twitter @Bern798 - Credit: Archant
Roger Richards, an Islington Council crew supervisor, saved the day on Monday after the 10 metre wide art installation was blown free in the hurricane force winds and was bounding around the Old street Roundabout, in Finsbury, with gay abandon.
Roger Richard - Credit: Archant
Mr Richards, 43, was driving on the roundabout, saw the danger, and pulled over – blocking in the errant sphere and helping it deflate.
He said: “This has to rank as one of the most unusual things I’ve removed from Islington’s streets.
“I was coming round Old Street when I noticed this huge inflatable covering three of the four lanes. It was billowing in the wind creating a dangerous situation that could have caused an accident.
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“I got out of the car to drag it to off the middle of the road – then a passing Islington dustc art crew stopped to give me a hand.
“It was made of really heavy plastic and took several of us to deal with it.
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“I think you can say I was in the right place at the right time.”
The giant beachball had been on top of the White Collar Factory Building, in Old Street, since March, but made a dramatic bid for freedom in the high winds.
