One of the most iconic images from the 1980s music scene has disappeared. It’s a sad moment. Call me sentimental, but I have felt for years that someone should have removed the diving board at AIR Studios and put it away somewhere safe. It’s been rotting away for decades, but to Europeans of my generation is a recognisable symbol of Montserrat and has been since long before the volcano erupted. I always felt that if tourism ever took off on the island, it would be a ready-made photo op for the lost cruise ship passengers found wandering around the cricket ground at the end of the day.
I suspect it disintegrated while being removed. The picture above shows filmmakers Cody Greenwood and Gracie Otto on the board in 2021, and it is clear from this that the wood was exposed even then. It’s a shame. Jack Nicolson’s axe from The Shining recently sold for $125,000, so who knows what this would have been worth before the rain got to it. I still think it should have been put in a museum many years ago. But anyway, an era has passed. Below are pictures of various people on or with the board: Alan Lancaster of Status Quo, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Corey Hart, Elton John, The Police, and George Martin. Also, what’s left of the board. Is that it in the water, do you think?
Craig Brewin’s Blog 