On the 2nd of May of 1994, David spent an envigorating day at fascinating Warwick Castle. The plan was to become absorbed in the romantic, medieval fortress and to get enough ideas to be able to go home and sculpt a truly great piece for Carnival '94.

The new exhibition at Warwick Castle helped David's mission enormously; it is called "The Kingmaker" and depicts soldiers, workers, lords and ladies of the Castle preparing for a battle the next day. The Madame Tussaud's life-size figures are so realistic that David almost had to restrain himself from talking to them, and the atmosphere in the vaulted basement rooms so clevery contrived that he could almost believe he had been transported back in time. An hour spent soaking it all in, together with a walk round the battlement, towers and courtyard of this most famous castle, was enough to get David's imagination working feverishly. In his mind's eye he saw that there would be two formidable towers framing an archway that led the eye into his sculpture. He then envisaged military paraphernalia scattered about, indicating the urgency of the archers and swordsmen making haste.
   He also wanted to leave no doubt that this piece depicts the Kingmaker's stronghold -- the Kingmaker being Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, who has the unique distinction of being the only person to hold in captivity two crowned Kings of England at the same time. This happened during a particularly complex period of English history known as the Wars of the Roses (1455 to 1487) when the supporters of the House of York wore badges of white roses and fought the House of Lancaster, the emblem of which was a red rose. The chief organiser of the various battles was the Earl of Warwick, who during the course of the 32 years changed sides and in turn had others turn traitor on him. The erratic Earl's banner was of a bear and ragged staff (the same as is used by the town of Warick today) and David included this symbol on Kingmaker's Castle.