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Mandela statue set for square
Sculpture of anti-apartheid icon set to sit alongside Churchill and Lincoln
A BRONZE statue of Nelson Mandela is to be erected in Parliament Square.
Ian Walters’ 9ft sculpture will face the House of Commons.
The anti-apartheid campaigner joins Winston Churchill, Lloyd George, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Disraeli and George Canning.
The decision ends a two-year campaign after Westminster Council refused planning permission for the £400,000 stature in 2005 claiming it would “clutter” the Square and asking: “who would be next – Gandhi?”
Wendy Woods, widow of anti-apartheid campaigner Donald Woods, patron of the Mandela Statue Fund, said: “To honour Mandela with a statue in a prominent place was my husband’s idea – it’s what he envisaged and worked for – so this is tremendous news. Parliament Square is a fitting place to acknowledge Mandela’s statesmanship and international stature.”
Donald Woods chose Ian Walters to undertake the work after seeing his sculpture of Mandela on the South Bank and learning of his links with the anti-apartheid movement.
Mr Walters began the clay bust in 2001 when he travelled to Mandela’s home in South Africa, where the statesman, who spent 27 years in jail, posed for nine hours.
Sir Simon Milton, leader of Westminster City Council, said: “From the start it was my belief Parliament Square was a more suitable location for a commemorative statue than Trafalgar Square.”
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: “This is a huge achievement after years of campaigning. London is proud to host this statue of Nelson Mandela, whose role in world history is finally being given the recognition it deserves.
“Allowing his statue to be placed in a prominent position in one of the world’s most famous squares, facing the British Parliament, underlines Mandela’s special relationship with Britain and London through the long years of struggle against apartheid, and reflects his significance as a world statesman.”
Mr Walters lost his battle with cancer on August 3 2006.
He had made many statues and busts of political figures, including Harold Wilson and Tony Benn.
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