Return of the Floozie in the Jacuzzi after six months in storage

In the autumn of 2021, work began to restore the River and Youth fountains in Victoria Square. By October 2021 the Floozie in the Jacuzzi was removed to storage (The River) as well as the other statue (The Youth). As of early April 2022, the Floozie is back, but as of yet, the fountains haven't been turned on, as workmen are working round the clock to get it finished.

If you want to see our existing Floozie in the Jacuzzi posts, click the links below:

Floozie post, November 2020

Floozie post, September 2019

River and Youth, 1993 by Dhruva Mistry was installed during the 1992-94 works to regenerate Victoria Square (it was opened by the late Diana, Princess of Wales). The Floozie in the Jacuzzi is the bronze female statue at the top known as 'The River', while the pair of children at the bottom was 'The Youth'.

September 2021

Fences start to go around the River and Youth stepped area, with the Floozie still at the top.

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October 2021

The last time that you could see the Floozie in the Jacuzzi was back in October 2021. Days after this, she would be removed to storage. This was also before the return of the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market in November. The Floozie getting one last bath from the rain.

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December 2021

Last few days of 2021, and there is now scaffolding and a white plastic wrap around the site of River and Youth. The bronze statues are now in storage for a couple of months now. Colourful hoardings up with the Be Bold Be Birmingham slogan, and facts about the Floozie in the Jacuzzi, ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

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January 2022

Still the white plastic wraps and scaffolding around the River and Youth site in Victoria Square, as well as the Be Bold Be Birmingham hoardings, as work continues to repair the fountain, that has been leaking on and off since 2008.

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April 2022

On April Fools Day, the basin of The River, has days to wait before the goddess returns to sit in her beloved bath. The stone balls and the basin of the upper pool are visible again, but there is still fences around the site.

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She is back! On the 7th April 2022, the Floozie is back in her Jacuzzi! But the site is still a Public Realm works site, and workmen are still putting the finishing touches to the repairs. But we don't yet know when they will turn the fountain back on. Lets hope it never leaks again! While 'The River' is back, 'The Youth' part of the sculpture has not yet been reinstalled in the lower basin.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown.

The Floozie from the fountain on in 2010, to the Floral Garden in 2015, to cleared in late 2020

Cofton Nursery removed the plants in November 2020 around the fountain and statues called River and Youth by Dhruva Mistry. We all know it as the Floozie in the Jacuzzi. The fountain leaked in 2008, but was fixed by 2010. Another leak in 2013, led to plants and soil going in by 2015. All stripped out by late 2020. Hopefully the fountain will be repaired going into 2021?

Previous Floozie post here: Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square over the years

During November 2020, Cofton Nursery returned to Victoria Square to remove the plants and soil that had been around River and Youth for 5 years. So for the first time in over 5 years you can now see the Floozie in the Jacuzzi without plants, but the fountain has not yet been switched on, as we are awaiting the leak to be repaired once and for all.

The last fix was in 2010 (after the first leak of 2008), then another leak in 2013 led to it being turned off again. Then in 2015 River and Youth was turned into a Floral Garden. Making it the Floozie in the Floral Garden.

With the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic / lockdown / restrictions etc, it meant that work could continue in Victoria Square with the paving, and also to start to fully restore the fountain in front of the Council House.

But first lets look back 10 years to when it was last working.

2010

It was near the beginning of November 2010 when I was first able to get photos of River and Youth (the Floozie in the Jacuzzi) with the fountains switched on, and the pools filled with water.

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Around the rim of the upper pool is a poem by T.S. Eliot called Burnt Norton.:

"And the pool was filled with water of sunlight, and the lotos rose, quietly, quitely, the surface glittered out of heart of light, and they were behind us, reflected in a pool. Then a cloud passed, and the pool was empty."

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS (Nov 2010) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The general view of River and Youth looking up towards the Council House, with a pair of poppies.

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There was a Christmas tree on the Council House balcony between the pair of poppies, as the water went down the steps.

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Looking up to the Floozie herself. With the Town Hall, Central Library (closed in 2013, demolished in 2016) and the Council House behind.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS (Nov 2010) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It looks quite impressive, like an artificial waterfall. This view towards 125 and 130 Colmore Row.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS (Nov 2010) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Looking up the steps towards John Madin's NatWest Tower (103 Colmore Row). It would be demolished from 2015 to 2018.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS (Nov 2010) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The water cascades down the steps from River (the Floozie in the Jacuzzi) down to the pair of statues called Youth. The BBC screen was still in Victoria Square at the time.

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At the bottom was Youth, with two metal bowls with all the water coming out.

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Near the end of November 2010 I saw the colourful lights around River and Youth in Victoria Square for the first time after dark. This was well after 10pm, so the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market had closed for the night.

This view below from heading down Christchurch Passage through the railing bars.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS (Dec 2010) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The lighting here was impressive, but it was also from the Frankfurt Christmas Market. View below probably taken through the railing bars on Christchurch Passage.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS (Dec 2010) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

From the bottom of Victoria Square near the Christmas Tree. The Happy Christmas Birmingham message is on the Council House every year.

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The Council House was all lit up, as River Routh was in a mix of blues and purples at this point.

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One month on to late December 2010. View of the Floozie lit up in orange lights, just before 5pm, 2 days before the end of the year. London 2012 logo on the BBC Screen.

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View of the Floozie in orange towards No 1 Victoria Square and the Town Hall. The fountain was off.

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It looked like the fountain had been turned off again, and the pools looked empty.

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A line of pink, blue, purple and red lights going down to the Youth statue.

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Looking towards Victoria Square House and No 1 Victoria Square. Was still old red phone boxes at the top of Pinfold Street.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS (Dec 2010) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2015

5 years later, and a few years after the fountain was last turned on. By July 2015, Cofton Nursery had planted an impressive number of plants, to try and make the area look nice, as the leak couldn't be repaired at this time.

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Only the steps didn't have plants on them. Still possible to see Birmingham Central Library at this time, before demolition would begin at the end of the year.

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You could hardly see Youth amongst the plants at the bottom, of what by then looked like a tropical garden.

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By the end of July 2015, The Big Hoot trail of owls was in the City which would last for 10 weeks. Alf the Penguin Owl was at the bottom in front of River and Youth (neither of which can be seen).

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In Early August 2015, there was a group of Morris Dancers in Victoria Square, not far from the Floozie and the floral garden that was in place of the fountains. I'm not sure if they were dancing to hope that the fountain would get fixed, or for the post Summer Solstice?

dndimg alt="Morris Dancers" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Morris Dancers Victoria Sq (Aug 2015) (6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2020

Onto the middle of November 2020. My first day back in the City Centre after about 2 weeks. So took my camera (while on my work lunchbreak) and checked out the Floozie, now that Cofton Nursery had removed all of the plants.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS day (Nov 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The only water in the pools was from rain water. No market, means that the pavin works around the Queen Victoria statue can continue without interruption by Christmas events.

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Compared to the view of 10 years ago, the Central Library is now replaced by Two Chamberlain Square.

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It was very quiet in Victoria Square due to the 2nd lockdown, and in town in general. At least Youth at the bottom can be seen again, without the plants.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS day (Nov 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Later that day after I left work, just before 5pm, had time before getting the bus home to pop to Centenary Square after dark. For the first time in 10 years saw River and Youth lit up with the colourful lights.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS evening (Nov 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

New to this view of River and Youth was the new (but unfinished) 103 Colmore Row. Victoria Square was completely empty and quiet.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS evening (Nov 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

If this was a normal year, the Frankfurt Market would be on by now. It still looks good all lit up towards 103 Colmore Row.

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Hopefully the fountain will be fixed and the water flowing again in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. And I hope it stays fixed this time.

dndimg alt="River and Youth" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River and Youth VS evening (Nov 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown.