Celebrating Old Flo with Imani Ali’s vivid and creative story

how Old Flo inspired hundreds of young writers to enter Canary Wharf’s short story competition

by Jon Massey

Henry Moore’s Draped Seated Woman has been many things over the years. Known locally as Old

Flo, the sculpture – which currently sits in Cabot Square – has been on the minds of

Tower Hamlets school pupils.

Canary Wharf Group challenged students to write a fi ctional story inspired by the artwork, with the winner taking home £1,000 for their school and an Apple iPad Air for themselves.

Having received more than 450 entries, the panel of judges gave fi rst place to

Imani Ali’s story, praising it for its vivid depiction of the sculpture.

Imani, who is in Year 10 at

Mulberry School For Girls in

Whitechapel, said: “The fi rst idea that came into my head was to write a story about a human that became a statue and I felt it was a really good starting point.

“I actually don’t know where the idea came from –

I’d been reading information about the sculpture and it just popped into my mind.

“As the story went on,

I decided to add another character. I knew Old Flo was a public artwork so I had the idea of having someone coming near her overfl owing with emotion, and turning her into a human again.

“Mr Creed emailed us to tell us about the opportunity – I’d never written a story about a statue before and I thought it would be a good idea to take part.

“I really like writing stories.

You can link them to real life or not to real life at all. I mostly write adventure stories or ones about murder – I don’t know why. Writing is really cool.

“I’d defi nitely like to be a writer. When I found out I’d won this competition I was ecstatic, just so glad.

“I didn’t think I’d win – I’d read some of my friends’ stories and they were really, really good and then I found out and my whole family were so happy.

“The sculpture is unique – I’d never seen anything like it before we came on a trip from school to get inspiration.

“I’m going to use the iPad to do more writing. Maybe I’ll fi nd some more competitions and enter them.

“This contest was such a great opportunity, I really hope Canary Wharf does more in the future.”

One of the competition judges, arts and events manager at Tower Hamlets Council Catherine Boyd, said: “What an amazingly talented group of young writers this was that entered. I am completely blown away.” Imani’s fi ve-minute work will be available at all the Short Story Stations in Canary Wharf, which are located in Canada Place, Crossrail Place Roof Garden and Jubilee Place, until May 31.

Stories from runners-up Leila in Year 7 at Canary Wharf College Crossharbour and Treina in Year 8 at George Green’s School are available via the three-minute and one-minute options on the machines respectively.

In celebration of her win, and for those unable to get their own print-out in time, Wharf Life has printed Imani’s story in full.

Old Flo in Cabot Square

Turn to Pages 10-11

story inspiration for a

5

Minutes – the length of Imani’s story, which can be printed o at Canary Wharf’s Short Story Stations across the estate

Left, Imani with a print-out of her winning story and, above, sister Ameerah has a read in Canary Wharf’s Canada Place Mall

Scan this code for more events taking place at Canary Wharf

legal matters

by Kirsty Tufrey

Kirsty says international students can remain in the UK after their studies via the Graduate Route

On July 1, the new Graduate Route will open opportunities to international students who wish to remain in the UK after their studies. There will be no need for qualifying graduates to have secured a job to extend their stay in the UK.

However, depending on their level of study, successful applicants will be given permission for up to two or three years, to start a business, work or look for work in the UK.

Under this new route, graduates will not require sponsorship from a UK employer and switching between jobs will be permitted without Home O ce approval. Employers are not restricted to o ering work in roles of a particular skill level.

Nor will there be any minimum salary thresholds for UK businesses seeking to employ graduates who are in the UK on this route. ● Will this lead to settlement in the UK? The Graduate Route “ The Graduate Route will not lead to settlement – it can however act as a will not lead to settle- stepping-stone to other ment. It can, however, act as a stepping-stone immigration categories into other immigration Kirsty Tufrey, Kidd Rapinet categories, which may allow those on it to settle in the UK. ● Who can apply for the Graduate Route visa? International students seeking to remain in the UK post-study who meet all of the following: ● Hold a valid Tier 4/student visa expiring on or after July 1, 2021. ● Have successfully completed an eligible course. ● Studied at a UK higher education provider with a track record of compliance. ● Remain in the UK.

Those who qualify won’t be granted an automatic extension – a formal immigration application must be made. This has a fee of £700 plus £19.20 for biometric enrolment.

The Immigration Health Surcharge will also be payable at £624 per year.

Kirsty Tufrey is an immigration solicitor at Kidd Rapinet Solicitors, based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs. She’s available on 020 7205 4191

Scan this code to nd out how Kidd Rapinet can advise those looking to remain in the UK via the Graduate Route visa

IMANI’S STORY

Old Flo slouches restfully on a slab of fat, smooth concrete in the same position she has been in for approximately 35 years. She’s as still and as silent as can be, as still and silent as a statue.

Her rock-solid, rotten old brain contains jolly, calm thoughts that are battling with the corrupt, evil schemes hidden in the very core of her brain. She may look calm and restful, but inside she is lost in thought.

Her brain is swarming with evil plans, schemes and revenge. Many people think she’s an innocent, harmless statue enjoying the gentle, warm sun that seems to be showering her with happiness. Although she is just pretending to be absolutely fine It’s just another day for Old Flo.

The truth is that Old Flo wasn’t always a statue, in fact she is not one, she merely appears to be one Inside, she is a curious old lady.

The day she decided to take a seat on the bench in the park and battle with her thoughts was the last time she would ever move. Old Flo was too lost in thought. “Oh what to do , oh what to do,” she would mutter until her lips could mutter no more. Old Flo sat there thinking and thinking, completely ignoring everything surrounding her. The park, the city, the people.

Minutes drained into hours, hours slipped into days and days cried into years In a matter of time she became frozen, stuck, physically and emotionally. Old Flo’s body is no longer warm, just a harsh bitter feeling, her body, coated with nothing but rock. So now you know the tale of Old Flo. You may think she is and will always be frozen and stuck, but the truth is she won’t. A day into the future, everyone in the city was enjoying themselves in the warm, comforting sun. There were little children playing with water guns, splattering each other, adults lounging on the wooden benches sipping on smoothies and cans of fi y drink ven ld lo felt comforted by this joyful day In fact, summer was her favourite time of year because everyone is outside enjoying the sun. She felt her heart beating and she couldn’t remember the last time she ever had this feeling. Her heart, concealed with rock, was breaking free. She felt like she could breathe again. She could feel the warmth, the sweat on her palms, she could feel the warmth on her body. It felt so real that she didn’t want to let this feeling go. As time went by, people came and left. Soon there was no-one left but Old Flo and a peculiar little girl leaning on her. Old Flo could feel the little girl’s fear, she knew that the girl was unsure and confused. Old Flo had been staring at this girl for quite some time, but the girl didn’t budge. She sat there leaning on the tips of Old Flo’s feet for hours. She must have lost track of time. This was the same feeling Old Flo had 35 years ago when she became a statue... As a little girl, Old Flo had always been interested in fairy tales, myths and stories – reading in her bedroom or in the story telling club in the library where she could just sit on a bean bag, close her eyes and drown in the story. One day, Old Flo was browsing a newspaper for some juicy news when she came across an article called The Human Statues. This was a strange name but, of course, Old Flo was interested in anything as long as it was writing of some sort. It said in the article: “The human statues are rarely seen but they do happen at least once a year.

Imani, seen here with the inspitation for her tale, created her winning story by writing a paragraph each day

These humans have so much to think about and they forget absolutely everything surrounding them. They one day turn into rock and there is only one way to break free from this curse.

“You must be happy with what you have and understand that you cannot undo your past actions. Whatever is done, is done, so you must go on to live your life. You must forget about all this and create a new life that you won’t regret. A life where you will be happy. The time you lose being a statue is the time you’ll have left to live when you become human again unless you don’t.

“Some people say that this is a bad thing, but more people think it’s a good thing. You get to spend a long time thinking about what you did.

“Then, one day, if you’re lucky, you will break free and all your troubles from the past will be long gone. You’ll have another life so you must cherish it for what you’re worth.”

Old Flo didn’t believe in this myth – after all myths aren’t true – but she had fallen in love with the writing, so she ripped it out of the newspaper and pinned it to her bedroom wall. She would read it aloud to herself every night but she still didn’t believe in it. As she grew into a teenager, she made some grave mistakes and, as she grew into adulthood, she soon became her rock solid self.

Old Flo could feel that the little girl was in the same situation she had been in 35 years ago. Old Flo regretted everything bad that she’d done and this time she was not going to keep thinking about the past and let her life fly before her eyes So what’s done is done and it cannot be undone. So she wished upon a star (which she soon realised was actually a plane!) that – just like the article had said – she could break free and, at that very moment the concrete started to crumble onto the little girl who was startled and jumped away from the statue.

She peered at where Old Flo had been, but it was no longer there. There was just a wrinkled, harmless, old lady.

“W-w-where did you come from” she stuttered, “and where’s that statue?”

“ Don’t be afraid dear” said the old lady as she hushed the girl. “I don’t want to freak you out, but truth is I came from that statue right over there.”

“Old Flo? Are you Old Flo? But how? That doesn’t make sense,” the little girl answered, her head exploding with questions.

“I will explain everything, but you cannot tell anyone, ok?” said the old lady, holding Imani says out her hand for the little girl she will to shake. continue “Ok, Old Flo” answered writing the little girl. regularly “Old Flo is just what they call me – my real name is Florence,” said the old lady. “Ok, Florence” replied the little girl. “So what’s your name?” asked Florence. “Sophie,” the little girl answered, politely. “Now shall we go on with your explanation about how you turned from stone to human, because I don’t quite believe it.” “You are a clever one aren’t you?” Florence replied. ”And yes, we shall begin”. “The Human Statues,” she read aloud...

THE END

450

The number of entries submitted to Canary Wharf’s Old Flo Short Story Competition by Tower Hamlets pupils

Images by Matt Grayson – nd more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta Competition winner Imani Ali, centre, celebrates with friend Zainab Ahmed, left, and her younger sister, Ameerah, in front of Old Flo