Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square over the years

The Floozie in the Jacuzzi is a bronze statue / fountain in Victoria Square, in front of the Council House. River and Youth by Dhruva Mistry was made in 1993 for the refurbished Victoria Square as opened by the late Princess Diana. The fountain used to flow, but for many years there has been a leak. Now plants.

Floozie in the Jacuzzi - it's official name is The River. The bronze statue at the top of Victoria Square. Youth is the pair of statues at the bottom of the square. Here we are looking at the statue at the top. The River is a 1.75-tonne bronze statue of a woman. Unveiled in 1993, the water fountain was working until the first leak was discovered in 2008. This was repaired in 2010 and it was turned on again, but another leak was found in 2013, and turned off again. In 2015 soil and bedding plants were filled in. But it is now possible that the Council has found funds to repair the leak and get the water flowing again, probably in 2020 (10 years after the last repair).

One of my first photos of the Floozie was taken during April 2009 (when I started taking photos around Birmingham). The pool was dry due to the leak the year before (2008 see above). A big screen was also in Victoria Square at the time (I think it survived until 2012, but was removed for good in 2013).

dndimg alt="Floozie 2009" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (April 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2009 and still dry, only wet patches from the rain. Looking towards the Town Hall and Alpha Tower, with the statue of Queen Victoria to the right. At the time was a temporary display behind about "How much labelling do we need?". Looked like giant chicken packets.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2009" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (May 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

By November 2009, the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market was being set up in the square. The Council was getting ready for Christmas, at the same time was around the Remembrance commemorations that are annual every November. The Floozie was still dry.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2009" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Nov 2009).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The leak was repaired in 2010, and the fountain switched back on! So the water jets sprouting out of the bronze Floozie statue. Behind is the Town Hall, Alpha Tower and Council House. Birmingham Central Library in Chamberlain Square was still open (until the new library opened in 2013). Hopefully the Floozie will look like this again in 2020? Except 1 and 2 Chamberlain Square will be behind to the right.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Nov 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Lit up at night during late December 2010 (a day before New Years Eve). The colourful lights had been added along with the 2010 leak repairs. A Christmas tree at the bottom of the square close to the top of New Street. Also the big screen was showing the London 2012 logo.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Dec 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Was trying to do one shot from different months, but this view below from the same evening as the previous photo. The view towards the Town Hall and Alpha Tower. The colourful lights kept changing. I think the fountain had been turned off again.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Dec 2010) view 2.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A few years later and it is now January 2013. And during a heavy snowfall. The fountain was on at this time, but the Floozie was freezing and covered in snow and ice! The next leak was discovered in 2013 and the Council once again switched the fountain off here. This would be the last time that I saw the Floozie with the fountain working (until they fix it in 2020?).

dndimg alt="Floozie 2013" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie Victoria Square snow Jan 2013.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Floozie wearing a pink bra. For Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer. Seen during November 2014. The Birmingham Central Library behind was now closed, and would be demolished from December 2015.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie pink bra (Nov 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Since the Council couldn't get funds to fix the fountain, they put soil and plants in. Seen here with the Floozie in July 2015. It's been like this now for over 4 years.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie plant garden (July 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Victoria Square was dressed up for the closing ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. The Floozie had an outfit on during April 2018. And they would broadcast live from Birmingham to the Gold Coast. This was before that went out on TV, a few days before when I saw her like this.

dndimg alt="Floozie Commonwealth Games 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie Commonwealth Games 2022 (April 2018) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

About a week later (still April 2018) was the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 home coming. Team England celebrated winning their medals in Victoria Sqauare. The Floozie had the same colourful wig on. While the event also looked forward to Birmingham 2022. She also had a gold medal around her neck and brush on her. The view between the Town Hall and Council House was now the Library of Birmingham and One Chamberlain Square (since then Two Chamberlain Square has blocked the view of the new Library).

dndimg alt="Floozie Commonwealth Games 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie Commonwealth Games 2022 (April 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another pink bra seen during October 2018 on the Floozie. Had to take it much further back due to the plants being in the way. As before was the Ladies Breast Cancer awareness campaign.

dndimg alt="Floozie bra 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie pink bra (Oct 2018).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Floozie reading a book in March 2019. Once upon a time in Birmingham Women who dared to Dream. Was installed near the Floozie in the Flower Bed for International Women's Day. (The book has long since gone from Victoria Square).

dndimg alt="Floozie book 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie reading book (March 2019).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Floozie seen with the Knife Angel (by Alfie Bradley) when it was in Victoria Square, Birmingham during May 2019. Backed by the Town Hall. Previously in Coventry, I believe as of September 2019 it is now in Middlesborough. See my post Knife Angel in Coventry and Birmingham for more photo on the Knife Angel.

dndimg alt="Floozie Knife Angel 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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