This 6.7m high bronze work was commissioned by British Gas, whose research arm was previously based on the site of today's Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park. Clearly resembling the flame of a gas boiler, its five sections represent the five continents. It is one of two casts: the other is situated outside British Gas’ headquarters at Thames Valley Park in Reading (though it was initially supposed to have stood outside their Thameside London office). It originally flickered in the dark, but the complex lighting system is beyond repair. The work was produced by the then husband-and-wife partnership of Neil and Auriol Lawson Baker. Little is known about Auriol. Neil was a dental surgeon-turned-artist and enjoyed popularity with privatized and financial industries in the 80s and 90s: he also designed a sculpted version of BT’s then new ‘piper’ logo in 1994 (although only a 24cm maquette was ever produced); a statue of a trader for the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange; and an abstract work for Eurotunnel.