Sculptor celebrates 225th anniversary of the Cheshire Yeomanry

The life-sized figure standing on its hind legs celebrates the 225th anniversary of the Cheshire Yeomanry.

Gifted Cheshire sculptor Jo Risley spent a year designing and constructing the unique piece.

The Corten steel three-metre high structure will be dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday, June 12, where it now takes pride of place in a 150-acre parkland.

Jo, 56, from Knutsford, who won the commission in a competition, said: “I wanted to capture the passion, dedication and resilience of the Yeomanry.

The rearing war horse weighs 500kg

“I chose that pose because I wanted it to be dynamic.

“This regiment is into horses and armoured vehicles which is why I merged the two.

“I used the mechanisms, structure and detail found on the Fox, Ferret and Jackal armoured vehicles.”

The sculpture was created in a studio barn in Toft

Transforming her vision into reality has been a painstaking labour of love.

“I knew it was going to be a challenge when I took it on,” said Jo, who has a studio in Northwich.

“I had to work out how we were going to create the different parts of the horse.

“It has been a learning curve.

“The body of the horse is tank-like and incorporates toeholds, wheel arches, rear lights and smoke cannisters.

Jo spent six months designing the sculpture and six months constructing it

“The legs and thighs are formed from wheels and tyre treads with the helmet-like head supported by gun parts and a spine and ribs derived from the Jackal anti-roll system.”

Objects of war mix with everyday items such as a spade and the beloved boiling vessel that provides the crew with hot water for tea and cooking.

Jo created a miniature model to work from

“I have tried to encapsulate the strength and dynamism of the animal with the armoured feel of the regiment’s vehicles,” said Jo.

The feat of engineering has involved her whole family.

The sculpture will be dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum

Husband Barry Callaghan, who is also a sculptor, shared his skills and knowledge and her brother Justin Risley, an architect, played a pivotal role too.

“My husband has been my right-hand man,” said Jo. “We have been working on this seven days a week.

Creating the sculpture was a painstaking challenge

“My brother helped with translating my drawings to Autocad for the laser cutting process for the head sections, thighs, mane and turret.”

Parents Ian and Gill Risley, from Knutsford, have provided emotional and financial support.

Military connections are important to her family as son Finbar, 17, is training for the Army and will march out from Harrogate Army Training College in August to join the Royal Scots.

Jo's husband Barry Callaghan, also a sculptor, worked with her seven days a week

The sculpture was created in a studio barn in Toft, provided by Veryan Roxby Leycester, a relative of John Leicester of Tabley, who raised the Cheshire Yeomanry.

“It has been very rewarding,” said Jo. “I feel proud. It is a real honour.”

Cheshire Yeomanry wants to pay tribute to all soldiers who have served with the regiment since it was founded.

Jo wants to thank her parents Ian and Gill Risley for all their support Major Peter Cooper, honorary colonel of Cheshire Yeomanry, said: “Our role remains as Light Cavalry, just as we were raised as Light Cavalry for the defence against a perceived Napoleonic invasion.

“Throughout its early history up to and during World War Two the regiment served with its constant companion, the horse.

“Since then, we have had another type of companion who has been our protection, our weapon, our shelter and our means of transport, the mechanised vehicle.

The Cheshire Yeomanry Regimental Crest, bearing the Prince of Wales' feathers, is incorporated into the design

“Our memorial represents the strength and power of that horse, but at the same time represents glimpses of many of those mechanised vehicles.

“It catches the imagination of all those that have served. It remains relevant to those that will take our place and perhaps remember us in years to come.

“I believe it is therefore an appropriate memorial to all those that have served in the regiment.

“Whilst the horse rears forward to the future, it is also glancing backwards to the last 225 years of service of this regiment.

“We are delighted with Jo Risley's design.

“She won against stiff competition, because she understood us, and took the time to learn about our history, the soldiers and the vehicles.”