“Two Fat Ladies” – that’s what they call this statue. Standing proud in front of the Centre Court Shopping Centre in Wimbledon, these two larger-than-life women have become a local landmark. Now, don’t be fooled by the nickname; they aren’t fat, just full of life! The artist Andre Wallace, a local boy, captured a moment frozen in time, the very essence of the busy Wimbledon life. These two figures, cast in solid bronze, seem to be striding towards you, their faces etched with determination. The sculptor aimed to capture a moment in their stride, leaving the interpretation of their expressions up to each viewer.
The statue was unveiled in September 1992, at the opening of the Centre Court Shopping Centre. The artist, Andre Wallace, took six months to create these remarkable figures and Meridian Fine Art Co. Ltd. cast them in bronze. But the story of the Two Fat Ladies statue isn’t just about its creation; it’s about its resilience and its place in the community. You see, a few months after the work began on the station forecourt, the statue was relocated. For a time, the iconic ‘Two Fat Ladies’ disappeared, causing a stir among Wimbledonians who feared its theft. Luckily, it was just moved from its original position to its current location. This wasn’t just a random relocation, though. The statue was actually reported missing from the station forecourt, prompting a search that even reached the local police department. And so, in June 2012, once the construction was completed, the ‘Two Fat Ladies’ returned to the shopping centre, a little further away, but much more beloved. Today, they stand as a symbol of the vibrant personality of Wimbledon, a town that cherishes its history and its art.