Astrid's Work - ITN Television Gallery

ITA Television Gallery 1968 commissioned by James Gardner

I believe that this consisted of several groups, but by 1968 the nature of my own work had changed and my time was often limited. Sadly, I missed seeing this work and have no idea where it may now be, or if in fact it still exists.

Some recent research has shown that this was actually part of the ITN library that was later taken over by the ITC. This is now part of the British Film Institute library, and enquiries have elicited only that the paper part of the ITC library was transferred to the BFI. They have no knowledge of any statuary.

Writing in Issue 22 – December 2001 of the ITC Bulletins, Barrie MacDonald, the Chief Librarian of ITC, writes:

“For over thirty years the Library has provided a service both to the staff of the organisation, but also to the public. In September 1968 Earl Mountbatten of Burma opened the Independent Television Authority’s Television Gallery at its London headquarters in Knightsbridge, a unique museum on the history of television open to the public on guided tours”.

It was clearly for this occasion that Gardner had designed the exhibition, and it is of further interest that there was a sculpture by Astrid presented to Earl Mountbatten of Burma. This depicted him being interviewed by a television crew, and I did take photographs of this piece. These show what appears to be the original maquette, but I believe that it may have been made into a bronze casting prior to presentation.