Percy Button’s Got All the Moves
February Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Statues”
Bounce — spring — glee! Captured in perpetuity.
Percy Button was a vagrant who, despite his grubbiness, became known as Perth’s best street performer. With his battered hat upturned, he’d entertain people with tumbling somersaults and handstands for a few shillings. He was also pretty good at performing tricks in handcuffs.
The Mirror dressed Button to the nines and held a competition to guess the cleaned-up and well-dressed chap's identity. A guinea’s worth of goods was on offer. (Which sounds a little elitist today. I hope Button got paid, too!)
In 2006, nearly fifty years after Button’s death, this artwork was unveiled — it had been commissioned as it “celebrates the spirit of the street.”
All of which I learned because of this challenge. For years I believed this was a statue of Paddy Hannan, and I guessed his handstand was due to all that gold he found. I mean, a bucket load of gold (100 ounces or 3.1 kg, to be precise) is a pretty good reason to do handstands in the street. Now I know better!
Isn’t it funny how weird (and wrong!) things get stuck in our heads?
This month, we’re chasing your best photos & stories featuring statues! Can you tell a story in just six words and a photo? Check out this month’s challenge below!
