Allan Sly submitted ideas for a sculpture to be sited outside Harlow Sports Centre and ‘Runaway Rotavator’ was commissioned in 1991 by Harlow Art Trust from the four maquettes offered. The work was re-sited when the sports centre was redeveloped into housing.

‘Runaway Rotavator’ was relocated to the Poundland Distribution Centre, near the Roydon Road roundabout after Sly visited and suggested repairs. It now stands on paving stones instead of grass.

Sly often uses ambitious compositions in his work which require skilful engineering to balance. His ‘Surrey Scholar’, commissioned for the Golden Jubilee of 2002, in Guildford High Street and the rearing stallion with his handler in Newmarket are two other examples representing energetic motion.